SAN ANTONIO – Yellow tape at the scene of a crime is usually a red flag, warning people to stay away from a place of trouble.
Sometimes, it's also a place of tragedy, where blood has been spilled.
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Once the tape comes down, however, it may appear that things are safe again, but that may not be the case, particularly if any bodily fluids remain.
"Human blood can actually stay infectious for quite some time," said Michael Charlton, M. D., a public health expert with the University of Texas Health Science Center. "There have been cases documented where the viruses stay active for up to a month afterwards."
Charlton said blood, in particular, when left behind at a scene, can mean trouble for more than the victim. It can spread diseases such as hepatitis and HIV to anyone who comes into contact with it.
"Probably the best advice would be to steer clear of it, especially if you have no business being with it," Charlton said.
For Juan Osteguin, it is his business.
Started 11 years ago, Crime Scene Cleaners go into places where very few people would dare and erases signs of trouble.
He said he came up with the idea after tragedy struck close to home. In 2000, a friend told him about the trauma of cleaning up a home where several members of his family were murdered.
"They were very distraught about it," Osteguin said. "(My staff and I) are ER nurses, so that wasn't something that we would have a hard time stomaching."
He said his workers have seen and cleaned it all -- from blood on the ceiling of a home to decomposing bodies. In addition to their medical training, they also have to undergo specialized training in handling biological waste.
Osteguin says his crew dons special suits, masks, goggles and boots when cleaning a scene where there might be hazardous substances present. All of that clothing is either thrown away or sterilized after each use.
While the sights and smells of tragedy may be a regular part of his job, Osteguin said he never gets use to the sadness that is part of a crime scene.
"When we go into a person's home, the homeowner or the family, they're there with their raw emotions," he said.
It's a dirty job that must be done. Fortunately, with Osteguin and his company, there's someone who doesn't seem to mind doing it.