Rapid Stain Identification Series (RSID) is designed for fast, easy and reliable detection of human fluids from a variety of samples encountered by
forensic laboratories.
It has been developed in the United States for the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, ...
.
This group of tests relies on antibody conjugation reactions to form colored complexes in the presence of specific biological fluids. Most tests are also designed so that only specific human fluids will end in a positive result. To perform a test, the sample in question is mixed with a buffer specific to the RSID test. The sample is then deposited onto the sample window where it is pulled through the test and control regions by a paper wick via passive diffusion. The RSID unit is impregnated with fluid-specific antibodies conjugated to colored complexes that will re-dissolve and diffuse at this time. If the fluid in question is present in the questioned sample, antibodies at the test line will react to the colored antibody complexes and form a colored line. If no fluid is present, or if the sample is not human, this line will not appear. A line will form at the control region regardless of if the sample contains body fluid or not, as it acts as an internal control.
["Rapid Stain Identification of Human Saliva (RSID -Saliva)." ''Independent Forensics'', Nov. 2016, ifi-test.com/documents/short-incub-SALIVA-Universal-Buffer-11-2016.pdf]["Rapid Stain Identification of Human Blood (RSID -Blood)." ''Independent Forensics'', April 2016, ifi-test.com/documents/BLOOD-Universal-Buffer--SpinEze062816-.pdf.]["Rapid Stain Identification of Urine (RSID -Urine)." ''Independent Forensics'', Jan. 2018, ifi-test.com/documents/URINE-5-10%20tests-01-2018.pdf]["Rapid Stain Identification of Human Semen (RSID -Semen)." ''Independent Forensics'', Feb. 2016, ifi-test.com/documents/022416-short-incub-SEMEN-Univ-Buffer1.pdf]
Positive and negative controls are also performed alongside each test to confirm its reliability and functionality. Positive controls are swabs taken from known bodily fluids while negative controls are buffer without any biological sample.
Uses
It is used for the fast testing of:
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Saliva
Saliva (commonly referred to as spit) is an extracellular fluid produced and secreted by salivary glands in the mouth. In humans, saliva is around 99% water, plus electrolytes, mucus, white blood cells, epithelial cells (from which DNA can be ...
– Human salivary α-amylase-specific antibodies are conjugated with colloidal gold and incorporated beneath the sample window. An anti-α-amylase antibody is fixed at the test line. If human salivary amylase is present in the sample, it will form an antigen-antibody-colloidal gold complex upon deposition. These complexes react with the antibodies fixed at the test line to form a visible red line indicating the presence of human salivary α-amylase, and therefore, human saliva.
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Blood
Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the c ...
– Human glycophorin A-specific antibodies are conjugated with colloidal gold and incorporated beneath the sample window. An anti-glycophorin A antibody is fixed at the test line. If human glycophorin A is present in the sample, it will form an antigen-antibody-colloidal gold complex upon deposition. These complexes react with the antibodies fixed at the test line to form a visible red line indicating the presence of human glycophorin A, and therefore, human blood.
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Urine
Urine is a liquid by-product of metabolism in humans and in many other animals. Urine flows from the kidneys through the ureters to the urinary bladder. Urination results in urine being excretion, excreted from the body through the urethra.
Cel ...
– Tamm-Horsfall (THP)-specific antibodies are conjugated with blue latex beads and incorporated beneath the sample window. Another THP-specific antibody is fixed at the test line. If THP is present in the sample, it will form an antigen-antibody-colloidal gold complex upon deposition. These complexes react with the antibodies fixed at the test line to form a visible blue line indicating the presence of THP, and therefore, urine.
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Semen
Semen, also known as seminal fluid, is an organic bodily fluid created to contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads (sexual glands) and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize the female ovum. Semen i ...
– Human semenogelin-specific antibodies are conjugated with colloidal gold and incorporated beneath the sample window. An anti-semenogelin antibody is fixed at the test line. If human semenogelin is present in the sample, it will form an antigen-antibody-colloidal gold complex upon deposition. These complexes react with the antibodies fixed at the test line to form a visible red line indicating the presence of human semenogelin, and therefore, human semen.
See also
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Forensic serology Forensic serology is the detection, identification, classification, and study of various bodily fluids such as blood, semen, saliva, and urine, and their relationship to a crime scene. A forensic serologist may also be involved in DNA analysis and ...
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Luminol
Luminol (C8H7N3O2) is a chemical that exhibits chemiluminescence, with a blue glow, when mixed with an appropriate oxidizing agent. Luminol is a white-to-pale-yellow crystalline solid that is soluble in most polar organic solvents, but insolub ...
References
Further reading
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*{{cite journal , vauthors=Sato I, Kojima K, Yamasaki T, etal , title=Rapid detection of semenogelin by one-step immunochromatographic assay for semen identification , journal=J. Immunol. Methods , volume=287 , issue=1–2 , pages=137–45 , date=April 2004 , pmid=15099762 , doi=10.1016/j.jim.2004.01.017
Forensic techniques
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