Use of Lateral Flow Assays in Forensics.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Lateral flow assays (LFAs) are widely used in daily life.
• LFAs have been developed for forensic applications like drug, DNA, explosive, and body fluid analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review academic developments of LFAs for forensic applications.
• To summarize the advantages and disadvantages of LFAs in various forensic fields.
• To critically assess the limited use of LFAs at crime scenes and identify barriers to market entry.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of academic research on LFAs for forensic science.
• Analysis of advantages and disadvantages for biological and chemical forensic applications.
• Critical evaluation of current limitations and future prospects for LFAs in forensic settings.

Main Results:

• LFAs show promise for forensic analysis due to ease-of-use.
• Specific applications include illicit drugs, DNA, explosives, and body fluid identification.
• Despite advantages, LFAs are not yet widely adopted at crime scenes.

Conclusions:

• LFAs offer significant potential for rapid forensic analysis.
• Barriers to widespread adoption at crime scenes need to be addressed.
• Further development and strategic market integration are required for LFAs in forensics.