Applicability of Two Commercially Available Kits for Forensic Identification of Saliva Stains

• Published in: Journal of forensic sciences 2008-09, Vol.53 (5), p.1117-1122
• Main Authors: Pang, Benjamin C. M., Cheung, Bobbie K. K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amylases - isolation & purification; Animals; Blood Chemical Analysis; Body fluids; Calorimetry; colorimetric test; Comparative analysis; Feces - chemistry; Female; Forensic Medicine - instrumentation; forensic science; Forensic sciences; Humans; immunochromatographic membrane test; Male; Milk, Human - chemistry; saliva; Saliva - chemistry; Semen - chemistry; Sensitivity analysis; Sensitivity and Specificity; sexual assault; Specimen Handling - instrumentation; Studies; Sweat - chemistry; Urine - chemistry; Vagina - chemistry
• ISSN: 0022-1198; 1556-4029
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00814.x

:  The RSID‐saliva test and the SALIgAE‐saliva test are two recently developed forensic saliva detection kits. In this study, we compared the sensitivity and the specificity of the two test kits with the Phadebas® amylase test by analyzing amylases from various sources including human, animals, plants, and micro‐organism. The data demonstrate that the RSID‐saliva test and the SALIgAE‐saliva test offer higher sensitivity and specificity for the detection of saliva than the Phadebas® amylase test. The detection limits of the RSID‐saliva test, the SALIgAE‐saliva test, and the Phadebas® amylase test equate to 10, 4, and 1000 nL, respectively for human saliva. The RSID‐saliva test and the SALIgAE‐saliva test were further evaluated by analyzing semen, vaginal secretion, breast milk, blood, urine, sweat, and feces. The results of the two tests are in good agreement. The two tests reacted with urine, breast milk, and feces, but not with semen, vaginal secretion, blood, and sweat.