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The effect of bleaching agents on the DNA analysis of bloodstains on different floor coverings

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Abstract

Blood at crime scenes is one of the most significant traces of evidence in investigation proceedings. Cleaning up these traces with household cleaning products, often containing bleaching agents, inhibits or complicates the detection of DNA. In this study, human blood was applied onto different floor coverings (carpet, laminate, parquet, PVC, tile) and subsequently cleaned with water and bleaching agents (hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, DanKlorix®, Vanish Oxi Action®) at different times. Samples have been collected afterwards from the floors. The samples underwent a quantitative and qualitative DNA analysis. Cleaning smooth surfaces with water is usually sufficed to prohibit retrieving a DNA profile in most of the cases. Cleaning carpets was more difficult due to their absorbent surface whereas the use of bleaching agents caused an additional reduction of verifiable DNA concentrations. Retrieving partial or complete profiles after the use of bleaching agents was only possible when cleaning with low concentrations of 3% hydrogen peroxide.

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Acknowledgements

This paper is largely based on the Bachelor’s thesis “Auswirkungen von Bleichmitteln auf die DNA im Blut” [Effects of bleaching agents on the DNA in blood] by K. Palatzke und N. Tiedemann.

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Author notes

  1. O. Krebs, A.S. Schröder and A. Klein contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    C. Edler & A. Gehl

  2. Technical College of Applied Sciences, Police Academy Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    K. Palatzke & N. Tiedemann

Authors
  1. C. Edler
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  2. O. Krebs
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  3. A. Gehl
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  4. K. Palatzke
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  5. N. Tiedemann
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  6. A. S. Schröder
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  7. A. Klein
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Edler.

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Informed consent was not necessary in this study.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Edler, C., Krebs, O., Gehl, A. et al. The effect of bleaching agents on the DNA analysis of bloodstains on different floor coverings. Int J Legal Med 134, 921–927 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02250-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02250-y

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