Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sensitivity and specificity of presumptive tests for blood, saliva and semen

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Despite their wide use, the limits of presumptive tests can be poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the specificity and sensitivity of conventional, as well as innovative, presumptive tests for blood, semen and saliva.

Methods

We investigated Kastle–Meyer (KM) and leucomalachite green (LMG) tests for blood with regard to their sensitivity and specificity in the presence of oxidizing (hypochlorite) and anti-oxidizing (ascorbic acid) agents. The suitability and specificity of the red starch paper (RSP) test for saliva was assessed. Finally, the inhibitory effect of detergent on the acid phosphatase (AP) test for semen was investigated along with possible cross reactions to tea stains.

Results

Our results confirm previous findings of higher sensitivity and specificity of the KM test compared to LMG test for blood. Contrary to previous studies, no statistically significant difference was observed in the sensitivity of the tests between dry and wet stains. The novel RSP test was found to successfully detect saliva. We demonstrated that acid phosphatase (AP) testing for semen is possible on used RSP. A common multipurpose detergent had an inhibitory effect on AP tests. False positive results were obtained from tea stains. Testing different sorts of tea (black, green and herbal teas) revealed that only Camellia varieties produce positive result with the AP test, due to AP being present in the plants.

Conclusions

From our results we conclude that specific knowledge of each test, including substances that may affect the test outcome, is imperative to ensure correct interpretation of presumptive test results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kastle JH, Shedd OM. Phenolphthalin as a reagent for the oxidizing ferments. Am Chem J. 1901;26:526.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Meyer E. Beiträge zur Leukocytenfrage. Münchner Medizinische Wochenschrift. 1903;50:1489–93.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cox M. A study of the sensitivity and specificity of four presumptive tests for blood. J Forensic Sci. 1991;36:1503–11.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kind SS. The use of the acid phosphatase test in searching for seminal stains. J Crim Law Criminol Police Sci. 1957;47:597–600.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Tobe SS, Watson N, Daéid NN. Evaluation of six presumptive tests for blood, their specificity, sensitivity, and effect on high molecular-weight DNA. J Forensic Sci. 2007;52:102–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Grodsky M, Wright K, Kirk PL. Simplified preliminary blood testing-an improved technique and a comparative study of methods. J Crim Law Criminol Police Sci. 1951;42:95–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hooft PJ, van de Voorde HP. Interference of body products, food and products from daily life with the modified zinc test and the acid phosphatase test. Forensic Sci Int. 1994;66:187–96.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Tirimanna AS. Acid phosphatases in the tea leaf. Experientia. 1972;28:633.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Martin NC, Clayson NJ, Scrimger DG. The sensitivity and specificity of red-starch paper for the detection of saliva. Sci Justice. 2006;46:97–105.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hedman J, Dalin E, Rasmusson B, Ansell R. Evaluation of amylase testing as a tool for saliva screening of crime scene trace swabs. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2011;5:194–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Bright JA, Cockerton S, Harbison S, Russell A, Samson O, Stevenson K. The effect of cleaning agents on the ability to obtain DNA profiles using the Identifiler™ and PowerPlex® Y multiplex kits. J Forensic Sci. 2011;56:181–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Sackiewicz A, Niemcunowicz-Janica A, Pepiński W, Skawrońska M, Szeremeta M, Ptaszyńska-Sarosiek I, Okłota M. Evaluation of visualization of biological stains with the use of alternative light source (ALS) for the purpose of genetic identification. Part II. Semen samples analysis. Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol. 2010;60:258–62.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Haas C, Hanson E, Ballantyne J. Capillary electrophoresis of a multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to target messenger RNA markers for body fluid identification. Methods Mol Biol. 2012;830:169–83.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Gršković B, Zrnec D, Vicković S, Popović M, Mršić G. DNA methylation: the future of crime scene investigation? Mol Biol Rep. 2013;40:4349–460.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all students of the Forensic Science postgraduate classes of 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 for their outstanding laboratory work. We also thank Nicola McCallum for excellent technical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Centre for Forensic Science, University of Strathclyde, 204 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1XW, UK

    Marielle Vennemann, Georgina Scott, Lynn Curran & Shanan S. Tobe

  2. Institute of Legal Medicine, OE5500, Medical School Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany

    Marielle Vennemann & Felix Bittner

  3. Department of Life Sciences and Technology, University of Applied Sciences Van Hall Larenstein, Agora 1, 8901 BV, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

    Felix Bittner

  4. School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia

    Shanan S. Tobe

Authors
  1. Marielle Vennemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Georgina Scott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lynn Curran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Felix Bittner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shanan S. Tobe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marielle Vennemann.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vennemann, M., Scott, G., Curran, L. et al. Sensitivity and specificity of presumptive tests for blood, saliva and semen. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 10, 69–75 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-013-9515-6

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-013-9515-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation