Understanding and Evaluating Blood Patterns and Blood Spatters

When conducting a blood pattern analysis its essential to first identify whether blood has spattered upon an impact or transferred through contact.
Through Forensic Resources expert analysis our team have found that blood spatters are created when blood is caused by force which results in blood particles travelling through the air until they lands on a given surface.

Forensic Resources has found that blood transfers are very different from blood splatters as they occur when a blood stain comes in direct contact with a surface rather than becoming airborne. A common example of this is a wipe blood stain pattern that indicates something was dragged through the blood or the blood was dragged along a surface, often a wall or carpet.

A random blood spatter of various sizes is referred to as an Impact Spatter. There are various forms of Impact Spatter which include:

Low Force (velocity) Impact Spatter

Low Force (velocity) Impact Spatter is usually identified as blood that falls directly to the floor from an open wound which as a result will create a larger, circular spatter with a approximately 4mm or more in diameter. If the distance between the wound and the surface increases the size and radius of the low force impact spatter will increase.

Medium Force (Velocity) Impact Spatter

Medium Force (Velocity) Impact Blood Spatter is produced with more energy of force than gravity. Through the substantial force of an impact causes larger portions of blood to break into smaller sized spatters. This type of Blood Spatter is commonly found during crime scene investigations where a knife has been used as a weapon.

High Force (Velocity) Impact Spatter

High Force (Velocity) Impact Blood Spatter is common in crime scene investigations where a gunshot, explosion or high collision has taken place. The blood located on a surface is smaller in diameter and more spread out, almost sprayed over a surface.

If you require further information on Blood Pattern Analysis, Blood Spatter Analysis, DNA analysis or Firearm Analysis please visit Forensic Resources Ltd.