Serologists analyze blood serum and other bodily fluids for medical and forensic purposes. They may work in crime labs, medical groups, or military branches, and their job may involve analyzing DNA, blood spatter, and determining the victim’s time of death. A bachelor’s degree in science is usually required.
A serologist is a medical scientist who specializes in analyzing blood serum. It is often associated with forensic investigations related to criminal investigations, but it can also be instrumental in medical diagnostic procedures. His job may require him to accompany law enforcement to crime scenes, as well as spending significant time involved in lab testing procedures.
In addition to law enforcement agencies and medical groups, serologists are often employed in crime labs and military branches. This work is also often performed by other scientific professionals. These usually include medical examiners, biologists, forensic technicians, toxicologists and criminalists.
Serum, which is the liquid part of blood that lacks clotting agents, is commonly analyzed along with other clear body fluids produced by serous membranes. Some serological tests are regularly performed on saliva and semen, which have vague similarities with blood serum. A victim of a violent crime may have traces of saliva on their body that can be used for analysis, and semen testing is often valuable in identifying rapists.
A clinical serologist usually tests the substance to determine its type, whether it is Rh positive or negative, and whether there are discernible antibodies or antigens. If he discovers specific antibodies, this often indicates the presence of a certain disease. Abnormal antibodies in the blood can also suggest problems with a person’s autoimmune system.
If the serologist works in the forensic field, his analysis usually has a different focus. He is regularly asked to extract DNA from blood to identify a victim of a crime or a perpetrator. In some cases, the blood is tested to determine whether it came from a human or an animal. Your expert testimony on these factors is commonly requested in criminal trials.
In addition to testing crime and accident scene blood, a forensic serologist is also often an expert in blood spatter analysis. Experts in this field can provide police investigators with important information about the height of the assailant, the direction from which the attack took place, and the distance between the assailant and the victim. A serologist can also typically determine the victim’s time of death through blood tests.
Most serologist jobs require a bachelor of science degree, but exceptions are sometimes made for those with extensive experience in a related field. A bachelor of arts degree is also occasionally acceptable if accompanied by a master’s degree. Many colleges and universities offer degree programs in forensic serology that include a combination of laboratory and classroom instruction. Some candidates who demonstrate exceptional skills or related work experience are hired during the formal education completion process.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
