Discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of the following tests: a) Benzidine Test, b)
Phenolphthalein Test, c) Luminol Test
a) Benzidine Test
The positive results of this test provide a green color.
ADVANTAGES:
It was common test for blood.
It is a presumptive test for identifying blood.
An enzyme in blood causes the benzidine to be oxidized to a polymer which is blue colored. This
make easy to find the result.
Develop color even with old bloodstains.
Can develop stains that are exposed to heat or cold.
Blood treated with a cleaning agent can also be characteristically categorized.
Develop color reaction with a blood dilution up to 1:300,000.
DISADVANTAGES:
This test is very unreliable. Although a test may appear that it has been a positive, the substance
that was found due to the color presence may not be the actual substance that was involved.
It is carcinogen which has been used as part of a test for cyanide and also in the synthesis of
dyes. It has been linked to bladder cancer and pancreatic cancer.
It is highly sensitive. This have been virtually eliminated from use because of their excessive
sensitivity, which results in a high frequency of false-positive reactions, as well as the
carcinogenicity of the reagent.
Reagents such as glacial acetic acid should be handled with care, as it is highly corrosive.
b) Phenolphthalein Test
This test provides a positive result with a color pink.
ADVANTAGES:
Known to be one of the most specific tests (presumptive) for the detection of blood with fewer
false-positive result.
Reagents are known to be non-carcinogenic.
Develop a positive color reaction of up to dilution level of 1:1000,000 (in solution).
Less sensitivity than other comparable screening tests for blood.
It is as test, it is highly specific for blood, and it can reliably detect blood in dilute sample.
DISADVANTAGES:
Hinders the DNA analysis. It reduces the amount of recoverable DNA.
The test will give a false positive result in the presence of any oxidizing agent like cauliflower or
broccoli.
Some chemicals like iron and copper oxides can react to phenolphthalein that produce a false
positive.
c) Luminol Test
This test provides a positive result with blue color appear in the dark.
ADVANTAGES:
This is applied with a spray that may cover large surfaces quickly and easily.
It is non-corrosive and non-staining and it is non-destructive to blood.
It is unbeatable for detecting bloodstains otherwise unnoticeable to the naked eye.
It can reveal patterns of blood stains in wipe marks, drag marks, shoe and foot impression, etc.
The observed reactions may be photographed and recorded for study and courtroom
presentation.
Due to its sensitivity it is capable of detecting blood in as small a quantity as one part per
million. Luminol is even able to detect blood on surfaces that have been painted over because
the wet paint will mix with the blood.
DISADVANTAGES:
Not all glows with luminol is blood. Luminol will also react strongly with various metals,
vegetables, peroxidases, and chemicals including bleaches used in cleaning which Luminol is not
suitable for use at a scene where it is suspected that bleach has been used to clean the scene,
and any positive result must be taken as a presumptive positive and followed up by analytical
tests to confirm the presence of blood.
The test must be applied photographed in darkness or low lighting levels are needed to enable
the light produced by the reaction to be seen, so if the light cannot be reduced to a low enough
level then Luminol cannot be used.
Interpretation of luminol result should be accomplished by an experienced crime scene
technician familiar with luminol use and application procedure.
If possible, luminol results should be verified by a subsequent color tests using phenolphthalein
or a similar test.
Photographing luminol reactions is very difficult and requires patience.
There are also possible health hazards associated with the use of Luminol; it is a respiratory
irritant, and potentially a carcinogen as well as a mutagen that could cause birth defects.
