Developmental validation of a novel lateral flow strip test for rapid identification of human blood (Rapid Stain Identification--Blood).
Human blood is the body fluid most commonly encountered at crime scenes, and blood detection may aid investigators in reconstructing what occurred during a crime. In addition, blood detection can help determine which items of evidence should be processed for DNA-STR testing. Unfortunately, many common substances can cause red-brown stains that resemble blood. Furthermore, many current human blood detection methods are presumptive and prone to false positive results. Here, the developmental validation of a new blood identification test, Rapid Stain Identification--Blood (RSID--Blood), is described. RSID--Blood utilizes two anti-glycophorin A (red blood cell membrane specific protein) monoclonal antibodies in a lateral flow strip test format to detect human blood. We present evidence demonstrating that this test is accurate, reproducible, easy to use, and highly specific for human blood. Importantly, RSID--Blood does not cross-react with ferret, skunk, or primate blood and exhibits no high-dose hook effect. Also, we describe studies on the sensitivity, body fluid specificity, and species specificity of RSID--Blood. In addition, we show that the test can detect blood from a variety of forensic exhibits prior to processing for DNA-STR analysis. In conclusion, we suggest that RSID--Blood is effective and useful for the detection of human blood on forensic exhibits, and offers improved blood detection when compared to other currently used methods.
Schweers
Brett A
BA
Independent Forensics, 4600 West Roosevelt Road, Hillside, IL 60162, USA. brett@ifi-test.com
Old
Jennifer
J
Boonlayangoor
P W
PW
Reich
Karl A
KA
D001801:Blood Stains; D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D011934:Reagent Strips / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D011934:Reagent Strips