Course Introduction

MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SEROLOGY

This module covers a comprehensive overview of blood, including its introduction, historical context, and essential characteristics. Constituents of blood, including plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and their roles within the circulatory system are also discussed. The module also focuses on the functions of blood in supporting bodily functions, processes involved in the collection, preservation, and packaging of blood for forensic investigation, and the evidential significance of blood in forensic contexts.

MODULE 2 – BLOOD STAIN PATTERNS AND ITS CLASSIFICATION

In this module, you will learn about blood stains and their historical context, bloodstain categorization into dry and wet types, and the classification of bloodstain patterns, including passive patterns (resulting from the force of gravity), spattered patterns (created by external forces acting on blood), and altered patterns (patterns that undergo changes post-formation). This module will equip you with knowledge of the significance of different bloodstain types and patterns in forensic investigations and how they prove useful during crime scene reconstruction.

MODULE 3 – BLOOD STAIN PATTERN ANALYSIS

This module focuses on the objectives of interpreting bloodstain patterns, the principles of their analysis, including the direction and angle of impact, and considering external factors that may alter a blood source or drop. The module highlights the significance of photographic documentation in capturing bloodstain patterns and addresses the procedures for collecting, preserving, and packaging liquid, wet, and dry bloodstains. Additionally, the forensic significance of bloodstain analysis is discussed, along with its limitations and related legal and ethical aspects.

MODULE 4 – IDENTIFICATION AND EXAMINATION OF BLOOD AND BLOODSTAINS

In this module, you will gain insights about various techniques used to identify and examine blood and bloodstains, including:

Physical examination methods: Visual and UV/IR examination

Presumptive tests: Benzidine test, phenolphthalein test (Kastle Mayer test), tetramethylbenzidine test (TMB), luminol test, Leuco malachite green test (LMG), ortho-toluidine test, fluorescein test, and hemastix test

Confirmatory or microcrystal tests: Hematin (Teichmann test), Acetone-Color Hemin (Wagenaar test), and Hemocromogen (Takayama test)

The module also introduces you to chromatographic methods, spectrophotometric methods, and electrophoresis techniques, including cellulose acetate electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, and immunological (anti-hemoglobin) tests, along with the Hexagon OBTI Test.

MODULE 5 – DETERMINATION OF SPECIES OF ORIGIN

This module covers methods to identify the origin of species of biological samples along with their historical overview. Tests for species include the ring test, single diffusion in one and two dimensions, immunoelectrophoresis, rocket immunoelectrophoresis (Laurell Technique), two-dimensional and crossed-over electrophoresis, antihuman globulin serum inhibition test, passive hem agglutination methods, precipitin-inhibition test, mixed antiglobulin method, sensitized latex particle method, and rapid immunoassay method.

The preparation of extracts and lectins is discussed, along with various factors influencing precipitin tests, like precipitating antibody, balanced antibody-antigen concentration, diffusion coefficient, optimal environment, and antiserum specificity. You will also learn about determining human and animal origin from various biological sources, including bones, flesh, nails, skin, teeth, fluids and stains, menstrual blood, semen, saliva, sweat, tears, pus, vomit, etc.

MODULE 6 – TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINATION OF BLOOD GROUP

This module focuses on advanced techniques in blood grouping, including the latest crust method, absorption inhibition method, mixed agglutination, and absorption elution method (test-tube method, thread method, and ammonia extraction method). You will also learn about the determination of the A and AB sub-groups, as well as the grouping of the Mn and Rh systems. This module will equip you with an understanding of the complex process of blood group identification, which serves as a powerful tool for precise and reliable results in blood-related cases during forensic investigations.

MODULE 7 – OTHER BODY FLUIDS AND THEIR EXAMINATION

This module covers an overview of examining various biological fluids within a forensic context, like urine, feces, sweat, nasal secretions, vaginal fluid, tears, vomit, menstrual blood, and human milk. You will gain an understanding of the properties, collection methods, and potential forensic implications related to these bodily fluids.

MODULE 1 - INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SEROLOGY

This module covers a comprehensive overview of blood, including its introduction, historical context, and essential characteristics. Constituents of blood, including plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and their roles within the circulatory system are also discussed. The module also focuses on the functions of blood in supporting bodily functions, processes involved in the collection, preservation, and packaging of blood for forensic investigation, and the evidential significance of blood in forensic contexts.

MODULE 2 - BLOODSTAIN PATTERNS AND ITS CLASSIFICATION

In this module, you will learn about blood stains and their historical context, bloodstain categorization into dry and wet types, and the classification of bloodstain patterns, including passive patterns (resulting from the force of gravity), spattered patterns (created by external forces acting on blood), and altered patterns (patterns that undergo changes post-formation). This module will equip you with knowledge of the significance of different bloodstain types and patterns in forensic investigations and how they prove useful during crime scene reconstruction.

MODULE 3 - BLOODSTAIN PATTERN ANALYSIS

This module focuses on the objectives of interpreting bloodstain patterns, the principles of their analysis, including the direction and angle of impact, and considering external factors that may alter a blood source or drop. The module highlights the significance of photographic documentation in capturing bloodstain patterns and addresses the procedures for collecting, preserving, and packaging liquid, wet, and dry bloodstains. Additionally, the forensic significance of bloodstain analysis is discussed, along with its limitations and related legal and ethical aspects.

MODULE 4 - IDENTIFICATION AND EXAMINATION OF BLOOD AND BLOODSTAINS

In this module, you will gain insights about various techniques used to identify and examine blood and bloodstains, including:

Physical examination methods: Visual and UV/IR examination

Presumptive tests: Benzidine test, phenolphthalein test (Kastle Mayer test), tetramethylbenzidine test (TMB), luminol test, Leuco malachite green test (LMG), ortho-toluidine test, fluorescein test, and hemastix test

Confirmatory or microcrystal tests: Hematin (Teichmann test), Acetone-Color Hemin (Wagenaar test), and Hemocromogen (Takayama test)

The module also introduces you to chromatographic methods, spectrophotometric methods, and electrophoresis techniques, including cellulose acetate electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, and immunological (anti-hemoglobin) tests, along with the Hexagon OBTI Test.

MODULE 5 - DETERMINATION OF SPECIES OF ORIGIN

This module covers methods to identify the origin of species of biological samples along with their historical overview. Tests for species include the ring test, single diffusion in one and two dimensions, immunoelectrophoresis, rocket immunoelectrophoresis (Laurell Technique), two-dimensional and crossed-over electrophoresis, antihuman globulin serum inhibition test, passive hem agglutination methods, precipitin-inhibition test, mixed antiglobulin method, sensitized latex particle method, and rapid immunoassay method.

The preparation of extracts and lectins is discussed, along with various factors influencing precipitin tests, like precipitating antibody, balanced antibody-antigen concentration, diffusion coefficient, optimal environment, and antiserum specificity. You will also learn about determining human and animal origin from various biological sources, including bones, flesh, nails, skin, teeth, fluids and stains, menstrual blood, semen, saliva, sweat, tears, pus, vomit, etc.

MODULE 6 - SEROGENETIC MARKER

In this module, you will be introduced to the concept of blood grouping along with its historical development, blood grouping systems (ABO, Rh, MN, and others), the biochemistry and genetics underlying these systems, various methods of ABO blood grouping, including wet and dry methods, and blood group-specific ABH substances, including secretor/non-secretor status and Lewis antigen.

The module also covers polymorphic enzyme typing, including phosphoglucomutase (PGM), glyoxalase (GLO-I), esterase D (ESD), adenylate kinase (AK), adenosine deaminase (ADA), erythrocyte acid phosphatase (ESD), and phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD).

The concept of electrophoresis of serum proteins, human leukocyte antigen typing, the role of serogenetic markers in individualization, paternity disputes, pitfalls in red cell typing, and new approaches in blood stain grouping are also covered.

MODULE 7 - TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINATION OF BLOOD GROUPS

This module focuses on advanced techniques in blood grouping, including the latest crust method, absorption inhibition method, mixed agglutination, and absorption elution method (test-tube method, thread method, and ammonia extraction method). You will also learn about the determination of the A and AB sub-groups, as well as the grouping of the Mn and Rh systems. This module will equip you with an understanding of the complex process of blood group identification, which serves as a powerful tool for precise and reliable results in blood-related cases during forensic investigations.

MODULE 8 - SEMEN

In this module, you will learn about the process of semen examination in forensic investigations, its historical significance, characteristics, constituents, and evidential significance in forensic analysis, along with the method to meticulously collect, preserve, and package semen evidence.

Evaluation involving physical examination (visual and UV/IR examination), along with presumptive tests (acid phosphatase, creatine phosphokinase, spermin crystal test, and choline crystal test), microscopic examination for spermatozoa (LDH and AP iso-enzymes), and advanced techniques like crossover electrophoresis are also discussed.

MODULE 9 - OTHER BODY FLUIDS AND THEIR EXAMINATION

This module covers an overview of examining various biological fluids within a forensic context, like urine, feces, sweat, nasal secretions, vaginal fluid, tears, vomit, menstrual blood, and human milk. You will gain an understanding of the properties, collection methods, and potential forensic implications related to these bodily fluids.

Yes, you have the option to make a direct payment to the bank account of SIFS India;, all you have to do is write an email at education@sifs.in requesting the bank details. 

Academic Qualification Documents, Professional Qualification Certificates, and National ID Proof or Passport Copy are required at the time of enrollment.  

Kindly send your necessary documents with proof of payment to admission@sifs.in.

An Admission Confirmation email will be sent with your portal credentials once the proof of payment and application form with all the necessary documents are received at admission@sifs.in.

To login, visit the portal at the given link: https://www.sifs.in/student and enter your login credentials, i.e., your username and password shared via email. 

After logging into the portal, you will have access to reading material, reference eBooks, and e-research papers.

Yes, all your assignments, projects, case studies and practice tests will be assigned to you through your portal as per the level you will be enrolled in.

You can easily access our online course on mobile / tablet devices. We highly recommend that you use your desktop or laptop and a reliable internet connection for a better view.

Yes, there will be an online exam after completing the course.

Yes, upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a certificate and marksheet, which can be a valuable addition to your resume and may enhance your career prospects in the field.

Write to us at admission@sifs.in, call: +91-1147074263, or WhatsApp: +91-7303913002.