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Luminol and Blood: Does Species Matter?
No, species does not matter. Luminol reacts with the heme group in hemoglobin, which is structurally conserved across vertebrates. The chemiluminescence intensity depends solely on hemoglobin concentration, not the species of origin.
Mechanism
- Luminol + oxidant (H₂O₂) + catalyst (Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ in heme) → excited-state 3-aminophthalate.
- Decay to ground state emits blue-green light (~425 nm).
Practical Implications
- Forensic luminol detects any blood (human, animal) at trace levels (1:1,000,000 dilution).
- False positives: bleach, copper, horseradish, certain metals.
- Confirmatory tests (phenolphthalein/Kastle-Meyer, HemaTrace) are species-specific (human hemoglobin).
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