ADVANCES IN ANALYTICAL PRATICES OF IDENTIFYING FORENSIC HAMTOLOGY AT CRIME SCENES

Abstract

Forensic hematology is crucial in solving crimes, but traditional methods present severe limitations, such as false positives and a lack of specificity for human blood. This study analyzed the improving methodological tools of identifying forensic hematology, investigating technological advances capable of enhancing crime resolution. A descriptive and qualitative narrative literature review was conducted, with searches performed between 2025 and 2026 in the SciELO, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Journal of Forensic Sciences databases. Studies in Portuguese, English, and Spanish published between 2021 and 2026 were included, as well as classic literature for theoretical foundation; strictly laboratory-based research or studies within the scope of reconstructive forensic hematology were excluded. The results indicate that Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) integrated with Artificial Intelligence acts as a revolutionary tool by isolating the molecular signature of hemoglobin, eliminating false positives and enabling automated interspecies differentiation. Additionally, progress was observed in the non-destructive dating of bloodstains at crime scenes through portable spectroscopy (Raman/FTIR) which, by monitoring the chemical degradation of hemoglobin, mathematically estimates the time interval of the event. It is concluded that the technological advancement of criminalistics cannot depend solely on academic effort; it is imperative that the Public Power assume its central role through the formulation of structured public policies and continuous financial investments for laboratory modernization and the practical consolidation of these new tools in routine expert analysis.