The Immunological Identification of Foetal Haemoglobin in Bloodstains in Infanticide and Associated Crimes

Abstract

An anti-human foetal haemoglobin reagent has been assessed for the identification of foetal haemoglobin in bloodstains encountered in forensic serology. The results obtained experimentally on known material have been augmented in a ‘blind’ survey involving stains made from 38 separate cord blood samples. These results establish that this reagent when used in conjunction with anti-human haemoglobin reagent can successfully differentiate cord blood stains from those of adult blood. The methods described represent an improvement on those previously available for the identification of foetal haemoglobin in bloodstains.