The FLORA-SCENETM (fluorescein) Technique
For Latent Bloodstain Enhancement
To Order Flora-Scene -Click Here

At the 1994 California Association of Criminalist (CAC) Fall Seminar in Pasadena, CA a new technique for processing latent bloodstains was introduced. The following year an article in the Journal of Forensic Identification (vol.45 no. 6 1995) on this technique was published and more recently a follow-up article in the same publication (vol. 49 no. 3 1999). Subsequently many presentations/workshops for various forensic organizations have been conducted such as, International Association of Identification (Calif. State Div.) and American Academy of Forensic Science. In the crime scene reconstruction application the fluorescein technique possesses the potential to supplant previous bloodstain detection systems. Historically previous presumptive blood detection procedures have been mostly investigative in nature and yielded less evidentiary value due to various technical difficulties.

The FLORA-SCENE technique has been adapted throughout the United States, Japan and Colombia. FLORA-SCENE is a significant improvement surpassing luminol in latent bloodstain sensitivity for bloodstain pattern analysis. Yielding superior documentational latitude by utilizing ambient light from an alternate light source (ALS) improves traditional photography but also allows for the use of video and digital photography recording. The scope of application has been broadened to include substrates which were thought unsuitable by other bloodstain enhancement procedures. Bloodstain pattern preservation with documentation on vertical nonporous surfaces is now possible.

The fluorescein technique performance parameter now includes: latent bloodstain patterns on vehicles and clothing that has been subjected to multiple washing, latent foot ware prints in which size and class characteristics may be documentable even on carpeting. Other aspects of this technique’s sensitivity relative to luminol and it’s interaction when augmented by, or combine with luminol has been addressed (Journal of Forensic Identification, vol. 49 no.3 1999). PCR based DNA analysis has also been successful on latent stains by the FBI Scientific Analysis Section and Evidence Response Team Unit utilizing “Subsequent STR Typing of Recovered DNA” (Journ. of Forensic Science 2000;45(5):1090-1092) and research on accommodation of other serological based test application is continuing.