"Bottom-up" in situ proteomic differentiation of human and non-human haemoglobins for forensic purposes by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

The MALDI-TOF-MS-based in situ "bottom-up" proteomic methodology described here shows great promise for the detection of human blood and even imaging of blood in bloodied fingermarks. The approach is sensitive, can differentiate between human blood and that from many animals (including several Australian native animals), and can be implemented after traditional crime scene fingermark enhancement techniques have been carried out.