Challenges in Body Fluid Identification

Body fluids, or serous liquids produced by the human body perform several important functions including transportation of oxygen, nutrients, and waste to and from cells of the human body, thermoregulation, and maintaining metabolism. Any imbalance in the composition of body fluids can directly result from a disease or indicative of a disease. Body fluids play an irreplaceable role in criminal investigation by linking the criminal, the victim, and the crime scene. However, the forensic examination of body fluids can be challenging because of the invisibility of stains, the diverse nature of body fluids, look-like substances, degradation and contamination from foreign particles, substrate interference, environmental degradation, and multiple body fluids. In such conditions, newer and more sensitive methods must be devised for the rapid, accurate, and sensitive identification of body fluids.