NCJ Number
252240
Journal
Talanta Volume: 170 Dated: August 2017 Pages: 210-214
Date Published
August 2017
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article presents a biocatalytic method for sweat detection that uses an enzyme cascade system that has the capability to detect trace amounts of sweat and distinguish it from saliva, even after the sample has dried.
Abstract
Sweat is a well-known piece of biological evidence that is used much less than expected. Biological samples are important, because their components can often provide some type of information about a person-of-interest. Sweat is particularly important because of its DNA content, which can be extracted and analyzed to provide information that can be critical to a criminal investigation. Although it is an important source of forensic information, however, the methods for detection and discrimination of sweat are limited, causing it to be overlooked during evidence collection. The results of the current study show the initial calibration studies performed to ensure that the cascade performs well. using both mimicked and authentic sweat samples which have components that could negatively affect the enzymes needed for the analysis. The method presented here also has the potential to be adapted for on-site analysis. The initial results of the development of a sweat-sensitive strip are shown here. (Publisher abstract modified)