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Blood species discrimination using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

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Abstract

Blood species identification is an important challenge in forensic science. Conventional methods used for blood species analysis are destructive and associated with time-consuming sample preparation steps. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is known for its nondestructive properties and fast results. This research study presents a proton (1H) NMR method to discriminate blood species including human, cat, dog, elephant, and bison. Characteristic signals acting as markers are observed for each species. Moreover, the data are evaluated by principle component analysis (PCA) and support vector machines (SVM). A 100% correct species recognition between human and nonhuman species is achieved using radial basis kernel function (RBF) and standardized data. The research study shows that 1H NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for differentiating human and nonhuman blood showing a great significance to forensic science.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Dr. vet. med. Olaf Behlert, Zoo Cologne, and Dr. Ansgar Waldmann, veterinary practice of Dr. Ansgar Waldmann, for supplying us with the animal blood samples. Y. Monakhova acknowledges funding in the framework of the state contract 4.1708.2014K of the Russian Ministry of Education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Spectral Service AG, Emil-Hoffmann-Str. 33, 50996, Cologne, Germany

    Elina Zailer, Bernd W. K. Diehl & Yulia B. Monakhova

  2. Institute of Chemistry, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Street 83, 410012, Saratov, Russia

    Yulia B. Monakhova

Authors
  1. Elina Zailer
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  2. Bernd W. K. Diehl
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  3. Yulia B. Monakhova
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Correspondence to Bernd W. K. Diehl.

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Zailer, E., Diehl, B.W.K. & Monakhova, Y.B. Blood species discrimination using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Int J Legal Med 131, 723–729 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1500-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1500-7

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