# brown stain question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 11, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-stain-question/321130 "2005-09-11T19:49:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![inkubo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@inkubo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkubo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-stain-question/321130/1 "2005-09-11T19:49:09Z")
I bought a used car back in 2004. I’ve never really noticed these spots but now they’re all that I see. There are dark brown spots near the driver side door, on the ceiling and on the back bit behind the rear seats. Would anyone suggest how to test and see if this is blood? ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-stain-question/321130/2 "2005-09-11T19:57:03Z")
The substance called “Luminol” that they use on those CSI shows actually exists, and you can buy it online. It reacts with blood and other DNA-bearing substances to glow under UV light. Although Luminol reacts to substances other than blood, apparently it’s very bright when used on a blood stain, and can detect traces many years old and invisible to the naked eye. Google “Luminol Blood” for way more info than you’d ever need. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-stain-question/321130/3 "2005-09-11T19:59:10Z")
Um, what **TimeWinder** said. (delete text…) Google ads just gave me a link to [this stuff](http://www.crimescene.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=132), ‘Bluestar’, which is apparently even better than Luminol. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-stain-question/321130/4 "2005-09-11T20:00:37Z")
I thought just a black light by itself will cause most body fluids to glow? And that Luminol just makes the blood glow more, so it’s super easy to find? Of course, I am fully ready to admit being mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![inkubo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@inkubo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkubo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-stain-question/321130/5 "2005-09-11T20:22:27Z")
Does the blood have to be tested within a certain period or can this stuff be used to find the blood of Julius Caesar on CSI: Roma? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-stain-question/321130/6 "2005-09-11T20:52:09Z")
Is it in a position that might suggest a hair product? Some of that stuff is pretty vile. ---
**Author:** ![flash\_hobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce73a5/32.png) [@flash\_hobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flash_hobo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-stain-question/321130/7 "2005-09-11T21:01:58Z")
Blood? Maybe it’s…_snicker_…POOP. “When you don’t know where you are, and it’s getting on the car…” Either way, why not just try and clean it off? ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-stain-question/321130/8 "2005-09-11T23:03:03Z")
> [@inkubo](#): > > I bought a used car back in 2004. I’ve never really noticed these spots but now they’re all that I see. > > There are dark brown spots near the driver side door, on the ceiling and on the back bit behind the rear seats. > > Would anyone suggest how to test and see if this is blood? Did you buy it at a police auction or estate sale? 😛