U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 Development of a Quantifiable Confirmatory Test to Detect Fly Artifacts Contaminating Bloodstain Evidence
Award Information
Awardee
              Loyola University Maryland
Award #
              2016-DN-BX-0181
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Baltimore, MD
Congressional District
              3
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2016
Total funding (to date)
              $154,521
Original Solicitation
              Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2016, $154,521)
As submitted by the proposer: 
Presently there are no methodologies for distinguishing contaminating insect artifacts produced by flies or other insects that visit and feed on a corpse from stains derived from human body fluids. In fact, artifacts derived from common flies are indistinguishable from bloodstains, particularly those associated with high impact or projected blood spatter. Traditional presumptive chemical tests for blood yield positive results for both blood and insect artifacts, or in some cases (i.e., Hemastix®) provide false positives. DNA typing is also not effective for discrimination since the blood meal contains DNA from the victim, and hence both fly artifacts and bloodstains will display the same genetic profile. Semi-quantifiable morphological measures, as well as alternate lighting methods, have been proposed for identifying certain fly spots from bloodstains, but the methodology is not satisfactory because it is not reliable, is not suitable for all fly species, does not make a distinction from other forms of body fluids that may also be present, and in the case of artifact morphology, is dependent on a very small pool of forensic experts. The lack of diagnostic tests for the identification of insect artifacts at a crime scene means that only subjective interpretation is used to distinguish fly evidence from bloodstains. Insufficient data and methodology are available to make consistently reliable and quantifiable distinctions between insect artifacts and stains from human body fluids.
The overall goal of this research program is to develop a rapid, quantifiable, and confirmatory method for distinguishing insect artifacts (i.e., regurgitation and feces) created by fly activity at crime scenes from human body fluids. During the grant period, we propose to accomplish the following objectives:
1) Generation of polyclonal antibodies toward enzymes in artifacts (regurgitation and feces) produced by necrophagous flies;
2) Development of western and dot blot detection of fly enzymes in artifacts produced by necrophagous flies;
3) Characterize specificity of polyclonal antibodies toward artifacts derived from different species of flies common at crime scenes;
4) Determine the potential for polyclonal antibodies to distinguish fly artifacts from human body fluids, including blood, saliva, semen and urine, and assess length of antibody viability in fluid detection;
5) Evaluate the utility of polyclonal antibodies in detection of fly artifacts from a range of household materials, including different floor coverings (carpet types, ceramic and vinyl tiles, wood), wall materials, and furniture fabrics.

Note:  This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law.
ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Detection of fly artifacts from four species of necrophagous flies on household materials using immunoassays
                  Development of a Quantifiable Confirmatory Test to Detect Fly Artifacts Contaminating Bloodstain Evidence
                  Immunoassay Detection of Fly Artifacts Produced by Several Species of Necrophagous Flies Following Feeding on Human Blood

  
Date Created: September 15, 2016
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Quantifying the accuracy of low quality DNA sample analysis from genotyping to genealogical searching and integration as a bioinformatic pipeline
                  Exploring how survivor perspectives and priorities are reflected in the use and implementation of Extreme Risk Protective Orders to address intimate partner violence
                  Meeting the Ongoing, Urgent, Unmet Needs of Uvalde Residents After the Robb Elementary School Shooting
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov