BLUESTAR® Forensic – What is it?

BLUESTAR® Forensic is a high-performance blood detection reagent that reveals invisible traces of blood, including those that have been cleaned, or washed away.

With its exceptional sensitivity, BLUESTAR® is the go-to solution for fieldwork, laboratory investigations, and even specialized applications like archaeological research.

BLUESTAR® Forensic is the leading blood detection reagent in the market, trusted in over 95 countries worldwide to aid in solving countless criminal cases.

The History

The first luminol-based blood detection experiments were carried out by Specht in 1937. In 1951, Grodsky introduced a field kit known as the “Luminol Kit” for crime scene investigators.

That formula included sodium perborate, a toxic compound, and required total darkness to observe the reaction. Its shelf life was very limited.

In 2000, Jean-Marc Lefebvre-Despeaux, president of BLUESTAR®, tasked biochemistry professor Loïc Blum with developing a new luminol-based formula. The goal: to eliminate the disadvantages of existing reagents.

Blum succeeded in creating what is now known as BLUESTAR® Forensic. 

Preparation and use

BLUESTAR® Forensic is very easy to prepare. Simply dissolve the tablets in water to create the working solution.

Application is just as simple: spray the solution on the surface using a standard sprayer or the BLUESPRAY® micro-diffuser, which is ideal for smooth, non-porous surfaces where dripping and overspray must be avoided.

Sensitivity

BLUESTAR® Forensic detects blood at dilutions up to 1:100,000.

It can reveal minute, erased, or washed blood traces, even on dark surfaces and in the presence of detergents.

Unlike traditional luminol, BLUESTAR® produces a brighter, longer-lasting reaction that can be seen with the naked eye — even in partial light — and does not require alternative light sources.

Its reaction is compatible with DSLR cameras and other standard photographic equipment, ensuring excellent documentation.

Synthetic blood:

BLUESTAR® Forensic reacts with synthetic blood products that contain hemoglobin. 

Performance on bleach

Studies conducted at the Nantes University Hospital show that even after treatment with bleach (9.6% and 0.48%), blood traces remain detectable with BLUESTAR®.

This includes stains that were machine washed in a machine after bleaching.

Performance on different surfaces

BLUESTAR® Forensic performs effectively on a wide variety of materials, both porous and non-porous, including:

Detection of ancient blood BLUESTAR®

Forensic has revealed extremely old blood traces.
The oldest human blood detected to date using BLUESTAR® was found on the remains of two Confederate soldiers at Gettysburg.
In archaeological contexts, it has identified traces dating back 7,000 to 8,000 years.

False positives

Certain substances — including bleach — can produce chemiluminescence and therefore false positives.
However, the glow from bleach is typically brief and easily distinguishable from a true blood reaction by a trained technician.
Other household products and chemicals may also cause false positives, but with experience, these can be quickly identified.