Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Terminology

Definition

Transfer Stain
A bloodstain resulting from contact between a blood-bearing surface and another surface.
Bloodstain Example - Transfer Stain
Bloodstain Example - Transfer Stain

Description

This example of a transfer stain was generated by wiping blood on the bottom of a shoe and then stepping on a target.

When a wet bloodied object comes in contact with a non-bloodied surface, some blood will be transferred from the object to the surface. In some cases the resulting transfer stain may have enough detail to identify the object that created it.