Michael E Telzrow  wrote:

>I'd like to request information on testing textiles for the presence of
>blood. We have a regulation federal-issue Civil War blanket in our
>collection that was issued to a soldier wounded at Nashville in 1864. The
>blanket appears to be blood-stained. I'm curious - does an inexpensive,
>non-destructive test exist for the detection of blood?

While researching for a final year Uni topic "Preservation of Blood Stains
on Historic Textiles" I found the following information which may help.
As a preliminary check for blood forensic scientists in Australia use the
strip used for identification of blood in urine.  Two of the proprietary
names in Australia are Sangur strip and Biostix.  A doctor or chemist
should be able to help you.  The method used was to wipe the strip over the
stain and then moisten the strip with distilled water.  I have not tried
this on aged samples.  However the archaeologist Tom Loy has also used a
similar method to identify blood residues on ancient tool surfaces so it
should work.  I am unsure whether it would leave any residue on your
textile.  Your own forensic science people may be able to advise you.  Some
references which may help and which also give some of the more complicated
methods are:

Gurfinkel, D.M. & Franklin, U.M. (1988) A Study of the Feasibility of
Detecting Blood Residue on Artifacts.  Journal of Archaeological Science.
15 pp83-97
Loy, T.W. (1983) Prehistoric Blood Residues: Detection on Tool Surfaces and
Identification of Species of Origin.  Science 220 No. 4601 pp1269-1271
Sheehan, F.X. & Cobilinsky, L. (1985). Human Blood Identification: A
Forensic Science Approach.  Journal of Chemical Education 61 no. 6
pp542-546

Roberta Rossely Textile Conservator
C/- George Bailey
Australian War Memorial