title: Forensic identification of urine using the DMAC test: a method validation study.
abstract: Forensic scientists may sometimes be asked to identify the presence of urine in cases such as harassment, rape or murder. One popular presumptive test method uses para-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMAC), favoured because it is simple, rapid and safe. This paper confirms that DMAC reacts with urea rather than creatinine, ammonia or uric acid. Sensitivity studies found that the 0.1% w/v DMAC solution currently used for urine identification detects levels of urea found in other body fluids, potentially resulting in false positives. A 0.05% w/v solution was found to be more appropriate in terms of sensitivity to urea however the test is still not specific for urine, giving positive reactions with a number of body fluids (saliva, semen, sweat and vaginal material) and other substances (foot lotion, hair removal cream and broccoli).
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Science and Drug Monitoring, King's College, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sandy Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wain
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Groombridge
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grimes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000737:chemistry; D002648:Child; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000032:analysis*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013542:Sweat; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002934:Cinnamates; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D014508:Urea; C018523:4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde