NCJ Number
243701
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 58 Issue: S 1 Dated: January 2013 Pages: S 183-S 185
Date Published
January 2013
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This study examined enzymes such as amylases in detergents.
Abstract
For almost 40 years, detergent companies have been adding enzymes such as amylases to their products as an effective method of breaking down tough stains created by polysaccharides and proteins. The possibility that a-amylases present in common household laundry detergents may contribute to the positive detection of a-amylase on evidentiary samples during forensic presumptive screening procedures is a potential problem that has not yet been investigated. To determine whether a-amylase detection is possible following routine laundering, five different fabrics were laundered in a variety of detergents, and presumptive testing using RSID-Saliva and Phadebas Amylase Test was conducted. The results demonstrate that clothing laundered in detergents known to contain enzymes does not retain any detectable levels of a-amylase following a typical wash cycle. The authors also show that, unlike laundered clothing, undiluted detergents do contain detectable levels of a-amylase; however, these findings were only observed using the Phadebas Amylase Test. Abstract published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.