Forensic Chemistry of Blood Typing

Blood typing is a method of classifying blood based on the presence or absence of specific proteins, called antigens, on the surface of red blood cells. Blood type, an inherited characteristic, is valuable to know in that it affects medical procedures, such as surgery and transfusions, paternity testing, as well as serving as evidence in criminal investigations. Determining blood type can help provide supporting evidence or eliminate a possible suspect’s involvement in a crime.