Stand-off Raman spectroscopy is a promising approach for the detection and identification of bloodstains for forensic purposes

Abstract

Stand-off Raman spectroscopy combined with chemometrics was demonstrated to have great potential for detecting and identifying biological stains from a distance for forensic purposes. Bloodstain spectra were collected using a handheld Raman spectrometer equipped with a stand-off attachment and compared with spectra acquired with a benchtop Raman microscope. The two sets of spectra were visually similar, supporting the potential use of a handheld Raman spectrometer with stand-off attachment for blood detection at the scene of crime. In addition, the stand-off Raman spectra of bloodstains were correctly identified using a previously built SVM-DA model for the identification of all main body fluids (Muro et al., Forensic Chemistry, 2016). Stand-off Raman spectroscopy opens a new potential opportunity for further development of Raman spectroscopy as a universal tool for detecting and identifying body fluid traces for forensic purposes.