Examination of drying of fake blood vs original blood on different types of fabric

*Corresponding author: RAJAN A. Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0. Examination of drying of fake blood vs original blood on different types of fabric RAJAN A * and STINI SABU Master in Criminology and Forensic Science, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Faculty of Humanities and Science, DR. MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2025, 22(01), 560-563 Publication history: Received on 07 March 2025; revised on 17 April 2025; accepted on 19 April 2025 Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjbphs.2025.22.1.0418 Abstract This study investigates the drying characteristics of synthetic and genuine blood on different kinds of fabric in order to comprehend the forensic consequences. Cotton, polyester, silk, rayon, and other textiles were treated with samples of both natural and artificial blood. To document variations in stain morphology, evaporation rate, and absorption was monitored in a controlled atmosphere. The findings show that while synthetic fibers like polyester dry more quickly because of their water-repellent qualities, natural fibers like cotton take longer to dry because of their higher absorption. It was also observed that actual and fake blood differed in visual traits such color, form, and clotting patterns. These results improve the precision of bloodstain interpretation by providing insightful information about crime scene analysis. Keywords: Fake Blood; Fabric Absorption; Bloodstain Analysis; Natural Fibers; Synthetic Fibers 1. Introduction Bloodstain analysis is a crucial piece of evidence in forensic science that helps reconstruct crime scenes [1]. The kind of fabric, the makeup of the blood, and the surrounding environment all affect how stains develop and change over time, and these factors all affect blood drying patterns. It's important to distinguish between real and artificial blood [7], especially since synthetic alternatives may be used in theatrical or staged crime scenes. With an emphasis on absorption and visual stain attributes, this study attempts to assess the drying characteristics of real and artificial blood on various types of fabric. Forensic investigators can increase the accuracy of their investigations by better estimating the timing and authenticity of blood deposition by knowing how these fluids interact with fabrics. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2025, 22(01), 560-563 561 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Research Design The drying properties of artificial and genuine blood on different textiles were investigated using an experimental comparative approach [3]. The study was carried out in an environment with regulated humidity and temperature. • Real Blood: Human blood ethically sourced from a certified lab [8]. • Fake Blood: Alta • Fabric Types: Jute, Jegging, Rayon, Cotton Coir, Nylon, Denim, Cotton, Polyester, Silk, Net • Swatch Size: 10 cm x 10 cm for uniform testing. • Variables o Independent Variables: Type of blood (real/fake), type of fabric. o Dependent Variables: Color, Size, Shape/Pattern, Transmitting o Controlled Variables: Volume of blood applied 2.2. Methodology o Swatches of fabric were spread out on a surface that wasn't absorbent. o A dropper was used to drop equal amounts of fake and real blood o Until the stains were dry to the touch, the drying time was tracked. o We noted the stain's diameter, color, form, and clotting. o Photographs were taken to record the observations. o The mean and standard deviation were used in the statistical analysis [2]. 3. Results Table 1 Drying Time and Absorption Patterns fabric Blood type Drying time Absorption Stain Appearance Jute Real Long High Dark red, oval,crusted Fake Moderate Low Light red, ellipse Jegging Real Short moderate Medium Brown, irregular pattern Fake short Low Red, circular, no transfer Rayon Real Long High Wide spread, uneven Fake Moderate Moderate Even drying, oval shape Cotton coir Real Long High Maroon, circular, moderate transfer Fake Moderate Medium Red cylinder-shaped Nylon Real Short Low Slight spread, circular Fake Very short Low Glossy, surface-level stain Denim Real Moderate Medium Brown, circular, no transfer Fake Moderate Low Orangish red, oval Cotton Real Long High Dark, crusted, irregular Fake Moderate Moderate Pink, uniform Polyester Real Short Low Small, clotting observed Fake Very short Very low Bright orange, blob shape Silk Real Moderate Moderate Irregular, dark maroon Fake Moderate Moderate Pinkish red, circular World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2025, 22(01), 560-563 562 Net Real Moderate Low medium Maroon, irregular shape Fake Short Low Dark red, circular 3.1. Visual Morphology o Real Blood: Showed crust formation, darker colors over time, and clotting. o Fake Blood: Maintained gloss for a longer period of time and dried evenly with minimal texture alteration. 3.2. Transmitting Property o The weave and fiber density had a minor impact on the transferability of both blood types. o While tighter natural fibers better contained blood, the majority of synthetic fabrics displayed blood transfer 4. Discussion 4.1. Natural vs. Synthetic Fabrics • Natural fabrics with porous structures, such as cotton absorbed more blood and dried more slowly [8]. Real blood had crusty textures and irregular edges because it clots and penetrated deeper. In contrast, fake blood dried more quickly but distributed more evenly since it lacked clotting qualities. • Blood penetration was limited by the water-repellent properties of synthetic materials like polyester and nylon [9]. This led to quick-drying, superficial stains. Only real blood showed clotting, but synthetic blood produced glossier, smoother surfaces [10]. • The behavior of semi-synthetic materials, such as rayon and silk, was in between. Whereas silk restricted stains to limited regions, rayon permitted a wider spread. Visual clues for blood type identification were supplied by variations in stain size and shape. 4.2. Significance for Forensics o Time Estimation: Reconstructing a criminal timeline is aided by longer drying durations in natural fibers [11]. which indicate earlier deposition. o Differentiating Real from Fake Blood: Forensic specialists can determine authenticity by examining variations in clotting, color changes, and stain texture [12]. o Fabric-Specific Interpretation: Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is improved by understanding how different materials affect blood behavior. 5. Conclusion This study shows that the kind of cloth and blood composition have a substantial impact on the drying behavior of blood. Because they are more absorbent, natural fibers change the morphology of stains by forming crusts and clotting, which further delays drying. Because of their limited absorption, synthetic textiles dry more quickly. Key forensic indicators are provided by the noticeable differences in texture and appearance between real and synthetic blood. The results highlight how crucial it is for forensic investigations to comprehend blood-fabric interactions. This information helps to improve the accuracy of BPA, identify fictitious crime scenes, and estimate the time of incidents. For more thorough understanding, future studies should examine wider environmental variances, bigger sample sizes, or various fake blood formulations Compliance with ethical standards Disclosure of conflict of interest No conflict of interest to be disclosed. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2025, 22(01), 560-563 563 References [1] Bevel, T., & Gardner, R. M. (2008). 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