Q: On creating a printer profile as instructed - the printed output has a pale blue tint all over the paper area - resulting in a slightly 'dirty' looking color overall. Has the scanner picked up the background paper area as too dark (rather than white) when the profile has been created?

A: It sounds like the paper has UV brighteners which are being "excited" by the scanner - the paper appears white to the eye but the scanner knows better. You can demonstrate this to yourself by taking a different type of paper and putting it next to the UV brightened sheet. With a new reference your eye will tell you more.