TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparative performance of the Phadebas® Forensic Press Test at room temperature and 37 °C for the detection of saliva stains on fabric exhibits
AU - Woodford, Holly
AU - Mitchell, Natasha
AU - Henry, Julianne
PY - 2021/3
Y1 - 2021/3
N2 - The Phadebas® Forensic Press Test (PFPT) is an enzyme-based colorimetric test used to visualise and locate latent saliva stains on forensic exhibits. The test relies upon the presence of the enzyme α-amylase which is present in high levels in saliva. Even though the optimal in vitro temperature for α-amylase activity is 37 °C, the PFPT manufacturer's protocol specifies that the PFPT should be carried out at room temperature (RT). In this study, we compared the performance of the PFPT at RT and 37 °C using combinations of four fabric types (cotton, polyester, acrylic and a cotton/polyester blend), three saliva dilutions (neat, 1:10 and 1:100) and stains aged for four time periods (1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months). The intensity of the PFPT colour reactions at RT and 37 °C were not statistically different across all fabric types, saliva concentrations and stain ages, indicating that maximum sensitivity and performance of the PFPT can be achieved at RT.
AB - The Phadebas® Forensic Press Test (PFPT) is an enzyme-based colorimetric test used to visualise and locate latent saliva stains on forensic exhibits. The test relies upon the presence of the enzyme α-amylase which is present in high levels in saliva. Even though the optimal in vitro temperature for α-amylase activity is 37 °C, the PFPT manufacturer's protocol specifies that the PFPT should be carried out at room temperature (RT). In this study, we compared the performance of the PFPT at RT and 37 °C using combinations of four fabric types (cotton, polyester, acrylic and a cotton/polyester blend), three saliva dilutions (neat, 1:10 and 1:100) and stains aged for four time periods (1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months). The intensity of the PFPT colour reactions at RT and 37 °C were not statistically different across all fabric types, saliva concentrations and stain ages, indicating that maximum sensitivity and performance of the PFPT can be achieved at RT.
KW - Fabric exhibits
KW - Incubation temperature
KW - Phadebas Forensic Press Test
KW - Phadebas Paper
KW - Saliva
KW - Sensitivity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097095303&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scijus.2020.11.001
DO - 10.1016/j.scijus.2020.11.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 33736849
AN - SCOPUS:85097095303
SN - 1355-0306
VL - 61
SP - 170
EP - 174
JO - Science and Justice
JF - Science and Justice
IS - 2
ER -