An assessment of a commercial anti-human haemoglobin reagent has been conducted under experimental conditions and in forensic casework examinations. The immunoglobulin preparation used was shown to react with human haemoglobin and baboon haemoglobin in similar fashion. The sensitivity of the reagent is adequate to establish the presence of human haemoglobin in human bloodstains. The use of anti-human haemoglobin reagents in medicolegal work is advocated.
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.
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