Void or ghosting stains refer to what?

• A. A type of miscellaneous stain.
• B. A type of passive stain.
• C. A type of cast-off stain.
• D. A type of projected impact stain.

Answer: (A)

Void or ghosting stains are negative spaces on a surface created when an object blocks blood from reaching the surface during deposition. This creates a silhouette or outline of the blocked area within a larger pattern. Because they aren’t produced by the common mechanisms of staining—such as gravity-driven passive drops, blood being cast off from a weapon, or blood being projected onto a surface by an external force—these voids don’t fit the standard categories and are described as miscellaneous stains. The shape and edges of the void can reveal the size, shape, and position of the blocking object at the moment of deposition, helping investigators infer movement and placement.