Seratec PMB Test
Immunochromatographic lateral flow assay for the forensic differentiation of menstrual blood from peripheral venous blood. For forensic use only.
Forensic Menstrual Blood Differentiation
The Seratec PMB Test is an immunochromatographic lateral flow assay for the forensic differentiation of menstrual blood from peripheral venous blood. The test targets Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), a protein produced by endometrial stromal cells and released during menstruation, which is present at significantly elevated concentrations in menstrual blood compared to peripheral blood.
Menstrual blood is physiologically and biochemically distinct from peripheral venous blood. It contains endometrial tissue shed from the uterine lining, exhibits elevated MMP-3 levels, has increased fibrinolytic activity resulting in reduced fibrin clot formation, and presents a different overall protein profile to peripheral blood. These characteristics form the scientific basis for forensic differentiation.
The forensic significance of distinguishing menstrual from peripheral blood is substantial, particularly in sexual assault and violent crime casework where blood staining may be present on the victim, suspect, or crime scene evidence. Determining whether blood originated from an injury or from menstruation has critical forensic and legal implications for case assessment and court proceedings.
Manufacturer: Seratec — seratec.com · Australian Distributor: Advanced Biotech Pty Ltd
Intended Use
Defined scope of application for the Seratec PMB Test in professional forensic laboratory settings.
Forensic Menstrual Blood Differentiation
The Seratec PMB Test is intended for the forensic differentiation of menstrual blood from peripheral venous blood in biological stain extracts prepared from forensic evidence. The test detects Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) as the primary immunochemical marker to distinguish the origin of blood deposits on forensic substrates.
The PMB Test addresses a forensically significant question in sexual assault and violent crime casework — where blood may be present due to injury, and the source of that blood may be disputed. The ability to determine whether blood staining is consistent with menstrual or peripheral origin provides critical information for case assessment and prosecution.
The PMB Test is intended for use by trained forensic scientists and laboratory personnel in accredited forensic laboratory environments, in accordance with validated standard operating procedures.
Scope & Limitations
Indicated for: Forensic differentiation of menstrual blood from peripheral venous blood using stain extracts prepared from fabric, swabs, and other forensic substrates bearing dried blood deposits, per the validated IFU procedure.
MMP-3 marker: The PMB Test detects elevated MMP-3 as a marker for menstrual blood origin. MMP-3 is produced by endometrial stromal cells; its elevated presence distinguishes menstrual from peripheral blood. Interpretation must be contextualised within the full body of casework evidence.
Not indicated for: Clinical diagnostic use. Results must be interpreted by qualified forensic scientists in accordance with laboratory SOP and in the context of all available casework information. For forensic use only.
Test Workflow
The PMB Test follows a standard lateral flow immunochromatographic workflow, compatible with routine forensic evidence processing procedures for blood stain analysis.
Evidence Receipt & Stain Identification
Receive and log the forensic exhibit per laboratory chain-of-custody procedures. Identify the blood stain area of interest on the substrate — fabric cutting, clothing, swab from an examination kit, or other evidence item — and document location prior to sampling. Confirm the stain is a blood deposit before proceeding with PMB Test extraction.
Stain Extract Preparation
Prepare the stain extract by eluting the substrate in the extraction buffer as specified in the product Instructions for Use. Ensure the extract volume and dilution are within the validated range specified in the IFU prior to application to the test device. Consistent extract preparation is critical for reliable result interpretation.
Sample Application
Apply the prepared stain extract to the sample well of the PMB Test lateral flow device. Ensure the correct volume is applied as specified in the IFU. Do not move or tilt the device during lateral flow migration, as this may compromise test line development and result accuracy.
Lateral Flow Migration
Allow the sample to migrate across the nitrocellulose membrane. MMP-3 present in menstrual blood extracts binds to the anti-MMP-3 antibody conjugate and migrates to the test line region. The control line confirms adequate sample flow and reagent integrity, and must be visible for any result to be considered valid.
Result Interpretation
Read the result at the time point specified in the IFU (approximately 10 minutes). A positive result — indicating MMP-3 consistent with menstrual blood — is indicated by a visible test line alongside the control line. A negative result shows only the control line. An invalid result (no control line) requires repeat testing. Do not read results outside the validated time window. Refer to the IFU for full interpretation criteria.
Documentation & Chain of Custody
Record the result, test device lot number, and read time in the laboratory case file per SOP. Document the interpretation in the context of the casework — specifically the relationship of the blood stain to the alleged circumstances — and proceed with downstream analysis or reporting as required by the casework and the laboratory's validated procedures.
Result Interpretation
PMB Test results indicate the presence or absence of MMP-3 at concentrations consistent with menstrual blood. All results must be interpreted within the full forensic context of the case.
Positive Result
Visible test line (T) alongside the control line (C) within the validated read window. Indicates detection of MMP-3 at concentrations consistent with menstrual blood origin. Document result and interpret in casework context. Any visible test line intensity constitutes a positive result. Record device lot number, read time, and result per laboratory SOP.
Negative Result
Control line only — no visible test line within the validated read window. Indicates MMP-3 was not detected at a concentration consistent with menstrual blood. A negative result indicates the blood stain is not consistent with a menstrual blood origin at the assay detection threshold. Document as negative per SOP and interpret in the context of all casework information.
Invalid Result
No control line visible — result is invalid regardless of test line appearance. An invalid result indicates failure of sample flow or reagent integrity. Do not interpret an invalid result. Repeat testing with a new PMB Test device using a fresh extract aliquot, following the IFU procedure. If invalid results persist, contact Advanced Biotech for technical support.
Applications
Forensic contexts where the PMB Test is used for menstrual blood differentiation and casework evidence assessment.
Sexual Assault Casework
Primary application for differentiating blood deposits on clothing, bedding, and examination kit items in sexual assault cases — addressing whether blood staining is consistent with injury or menstruation, which may have significant implications for case assessment and prosecution.
Cold Case Re-examination
Re-examination of archived forensic blood stain evidence from cold cases where the origin of blood deposits was previously unresolved — providing additional body fluid characterisation to support reinvestigation with current forensic methods.
Violent Crime Casework
Assessment of blood staining in violent crime scenes and on items recovered from suspects or victims, where the origin of blood — peripheral injury or menstrual — is forensically relevant to the reconstruction of events and the evaluation of evidence.
Forensic Reference Laboratories
Accredited forensic reference laboratories requiring a validated, standardised rapid test for menstrual blood differentiation as part of a comprehensive body fluid identification capability, complementing existing assays for blood, semen, and saliva.
DNA Triage & Exhibit Prioritisation
Characterising blood stains as menstrual or peripheral origin as part of exhibit triage prior to DNA profiling — informing decisions about the likely contributor profile and the forensic value of mixed stain DNA extracts containing menstrual blood components.
Casework Context & Interpretation Support
Supporting the broader forensic interpretation of blood stain evidence by providing immunochemical data on blood origin, enabling practitioners to evaluate competing hypotheses about the source of blood deposits in the context of the alleged circumstances.
Technical Specifications
| Product name | Seratec PMB Test |
|---|---|
| Test format | Lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFA) |
| Detection format | Qualitative |
| Target analyte | Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) |
| Biological marker for | Menstrual blood (elevated MMP-3 distinguishes menstrual from peripheral venous blood) |
| Forensic application | Differentiation of menstrual blood from peripheral venous blood in forensic stain extracts |
| Sample type | Biological stain extract prepared per IFU |
| Substrate compatibility | Fabric, clothing, swabs, and other forensic substrates bearing blood deposits (refer to IFU for validated substrates) |
| Result time | Approximately 10 minutes (refer to IFU for validated read window) |
| Result interpretation | Visual — test line (T) and control line (C) on lateral flow membrane |
| Positive result | Visible test line (any intensity) in presence of valid control line — consistent with menstrual blood origin |
| Negative result | Control line only; no visible test line — MMP-3 not detected at level consistent with menstrual blood |
| Invalid result | No control line visible — repeat test required |
| Storage temperature | Refer to product label and IFU |
| Shelf life | Refer to product label and IFU |
| Regulatory category | Forensic — for forensic use only |
| Manufacturer | Seratec |
| Australian distributor | Advanced Biotech Pty Ltd |
| Contact | admin@advancedbiotech.com.au · 0413 654 860 |
Downloads
Product documentation for the Seratec PMB Test. Contact Advanced Biotech to request the Instructions for Use, Safety Data Sheet, and technical literature.
The Seratec PMB Test is a forensic diagnostic test. For forensic use only. This product is not approved or intended for clinical diagnostic use. Results must be interpreted by qualified forensic scientists or laboratory personnel operating within accredited forensic laboratory environments and in accordance with validated standard operating procedures.
PMB Test results indicate the presence or absence of MMP-3 at concentrations consistent with menstrual blood and must be interpreted in the context of all available casework information. A positive result alone does not constitute a definitive determination of blood origin — full forensic interpretation requires consideration of the circumstances of the alleged offence, stain location and pattern, and any other relevant analytical findings.
Australian Distributor: Advanced Biotech Pty Ltd — admin@advancedbiotech.com.au — 0413 654 860.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Seratec PMB Test for forensic menstrual blood differentiation.
The Seratec PMB Test detects Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), a protein present at significantly elevated concentrations in menstrual blood compared to peripheral venous blood. The forensic significance lies in the ability to differentiate the origin of a blood stain — determining whether blood found at a crime scene or on a victim's clothing originated from an injury (peripheral blood) or from menstruation. This distinction has critical implications in sexual assault and violent crime casework, where the source of blood staining may be contested. For forensic use only.
Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) is a member of the matrix metalloproteinase enzyme family involved in extracellular matrix remodelling. MMP-3 is produced by endometrial stromal cells and is released into the uterine cavity during menstruation as part of the physiological process of endometrial shedding. As a result, MMP-3 is present at substantially elevated concentrations in menstrual blood compared to peripheral venous blood, making it a highly informative immunochemical marker for menstrual blood differentiation in forensic casework. The PMB Test uses anti-MMP-3 antibodies in an immunochromatographic lateral flow format to detect this marker in stain extracts.
Menstrual blood has several distinguishing characteristics compared to peripheral venous blood that are forensically relevant. It contains endometrial tissue and cellular debris shed from the uterine lining during menstruation. It has elevated levels of MMP-3, produced by endometrial stromal cells. Menstrual blood also exhibits increased fibrinolytic activity — resulting in reduced fibrin clot formation and the characteristically lower viscosity of menstrual discharge. Elevated D-dimer levels, reflecting fibrinolytic activity, and certain fibronectin variants are also reported in the forensic literature as markers associated with menstrual blood. The PMB Test targets MMP-3 as the primary immunochemical differentiator. For forensic use only.
The PMB Test is designed for use with biological stain extracts prepared from forensic evidence substrates where blood staining is present. Compatible substrates include fabric and clothing cuttings, swabs from sexual assault examination kits, and other items bearing dried blood deposits. The blood stain is eluted in extraction buffer as specified in the Instructions for Use before application to the test device. Refer to the IFU for validated sample types, extraction procedures, and any dilution requirements.
The performance of the PMB Test on aged or degraded stains depends on the degree of protein degradation in the sample. As with all immunochromatographic assays, detectability of MMP-3 in aged stains is subject to storage conditions, substrate type, and the extent of protein denaturation over time. Stains stored under adverse conditions (high humidity, temperature extremes, or UV exposure) may exhibit reduced MMP-3 signal. Refer to the Instructions for Use for information on sample requirements, and contact Advanced Biotech at admin@advancedbiotech.com.au for guidance on performance characteristics with aged forensic samples.
Read the result at the time point specified in the IFU (approximately 10 minutes). Positive: visible test line (T) alongside the control line (C) — indicates MMP-3 detected at concentrations consistent with menstrual blood; any intensity constitutes a positive. Negative: control line only, no visible test line — MMP-3 not detected at a level consistent with menstrual blood origin. Invalid: no control line visible — do not interpret; repeat with a new device. All results must be interpreted within the full forensic context of the case by qualified forensic scientists. For forensic use only.
The Seratec PMB Test produces results within approximately 10 minutes of sample application. Results must be read within the time window specified in the Instructions for Use. Do not read results before the minimum validated time or after the specified window has elapsed, as this may affect result accuracy and reliability. The rapid result time supports efficient evidence triage in high-throughput forensic laboratory environments.
The Seratec PMB Test is distributed in Australia by Advanced Biotech Pty Ltd. Contact us at admin@advancedbiotech.com.au or telephone 0413 654 860 to request pricing, pack sizes, availability, and product documentation including the Instructions for Use and Safety Data Sheet.
Enquire About the PMB Test
Contact Advanced Biotech Pty Ltd to request pricing, pack sizes, availability, and technical documentation for the Seratec PMB Test in Australia.
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