title: Multidimensional Raman spectroscopic signatures as a tool for forensic identification of body fluid traces: a review.
abstract: The analysis of body fluid traces during forensic investigations is a critical step in determining the key details of a crime. Several confirmatory and presumptive biochemical  tests are currently utilized. However, these tests are all destructive, and no single method can be used to analyze all body fluids. This review outlines recent progress in the development of a novel universal approach for the nondestructive, confirmatory identification of body fluid traces  using Raman spectroscopy. The method is based on the use of multidimensional spectroscopic signatures of body fluids and accounts for the intrinsic heterogeneity of dry traces and donor variation. The results presented here demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy has potential for identifying  traces of semen, blood, saliva, sweat, and vaginal fluid with high confidence.
authors: Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, New York 12222, USA.
authors: Vitali
authors: V
authors: Sikirzhytski
authors: Aliaksandra
authors: A
authors: Sikirzhytskaya
authors: Igor K
authors: IK
authors: Lednev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*