Effects of Common Anticoagulants on the Visual Characteristics of Bloodstains

doi:10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2023.431003

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of three common anticoagulants, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid-K₂ （EDTA-K₂）, sodium citrate and heparin sodium, on the visual characteristics of bloodstains such as patterns and colors. Methods Freshly collected blood samples were treated with EDTA-K₂, sodium citrate and heparin sodium respectively, and bloodstain samples were prepared on two objects, acrylic plate and ceramic tile. Bloodstains without anticoagulant treatment were used as the control sample. The drying time, wetting ratio, the number of cracks, the number of fragments, the central impression area ratio and the mean gray value of bloodstains were observed and recorded. Results Anticoagulants delayed the drying process of bloodstains. At 3.5 h, the wetting ratios of EDTA-K₂-, sodium citrate- and heparin sodium-anticoagulated bloodstains on the acrylic plate were 54.80%, 56.68% and 60.60%, respectively, which were higher than that of bloodstains without anticoagulant treatment （25.70%）. Anticoagulants increased the number of cracks, the number of fragments and the central impression area ratio. The changes of these three visual characteristics were most obvious in the sodium citrate-anticoagulated bloodstains, with the crack number of 0.93/mm, the fragment number of 46, and the central impression area ratio of 48.41% after drying. Anticoagulants reduced the mean gray value of bloodstains. Among them, the sodium citrate-anticoagulated bloodstains exhibited the longest time to peak in mean gray value, reading 3.5 h. Similar changes in visual characteristics were observed on the ceramic tile. Conclusion The three commonly used anticoagulants change the visual characteristics of bloodstains. It is not recommended to use anticoagulated blood as a substitute for preparing experimental samples in bloodstain pattern analysis experiments. Based on the changes in the visual characteristics during the drying process of bloodstains, the time of bloodstain deposition can be roughly estimated, and the blood scene staged with anticoagulated blood can be identified.

Key words: forensic medicine, forensic sceneology, bloodstain, anticoagulant, visual characteristics, drying time

CLC Number:

Zun-lei QIAN, Meng-qi WU, Yu SHI. Effects of Common Anticoagulants on the Visual Characteristics of Bloodstains[J]. Journal of Forensic Medicine, 2025, 41(1): 40-47，58.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 Area demarcation of bloodstains

Fig. 2 Measurement of visual characteristic parameters of bloodstains

Tab. 1 The time ranges for the bloodstains to reach each drying stage

干燥阶段	亚克力板				瓷砖
干燥阶段	无抗凝剂	EDTA-K₂	柠檬酸钠	肝素钠	无抗凝剂	EDTA-K₂	柠檬酸钠	肝素钠
内外分界出现	0.50~0.75	0.50~1.00	0.50~0.75	0.50~1.00	0.50~0.75	0.50~0.75	0.50~1.00	0.75~1.00
内外分界线固定	2.50~3.50	3.00~3.50	3.50~4.00	3.00~3.50	3.00~3.50	3.50~4.00	4.00~4.50	3.50~4.50
完全干燥	5.00~6.00	5.50~6.00	5.50~6.50	5.50~6.50	4.00~5.00	4.50~5.50	5.50~6.50	5.00~6.00

Fig. 3 The changes of the wetting ratios over time

Fig. 4 The changes of bloodstain patterns on the acrylic plate surface over time

Fig. 5 Variation of crack numbers over time

Fig. 6 The morphology of fully dried bloodstainson the acrylic plate surface

Fig. 7 Comparison of morphological features offour bloodstain residues on the acrylic plate

Tab. 2 The central impression area ratios of fourbloodstains on acrylic plates and ceramic tiles

血迹种类	亚克力板	瓷砖
无抗凝剂	7.01±1.15	7.81±1.34
EDTA-K₂抗凝	39.46±1.44^1）	35.36±0.55^1）
柠檬酸钠抗凝	48.41±3.10^1）2）	38.76±2.92^1）
肝素钠抗凝	25.30±2.21^1）2）3）	21.51±0.98^1）2）3）

Fig. 8 The changes of the mean gray values offour bloodstains over time

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