Seratec PMB Test
Duplex lateral flow assay for the simultaneous detection of human hemoglobin and human D-dimer, supporting forensic differentiation of menstrual blood from peripheral venous blood. For forensic use only.
Forensic Menstrual Blood Differentiation
The Seratec PMB Test is a duplex lateral flow assay for the simultaneous detection of human hemoglobin and human D-dimer in biological stain extracts. The combined interpretation of these two markers supports the differentiation of peripheral venous blood from menstrual blood in forensic casework.
Menstrual blood is physiologically and biochemically distinct from peripheral venous blood. It contains endometrial tissue shed from the uterine lining, and exhibits increased fibrinolytic activity resulting in elevated D-dimer levels and reduced fibrin clot formation. These characteristics form the scientific basis for the PMB Test's duplex detection approach.
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. The result must be interpreted in the full forensic context and according to the laboratory's validated SOP.
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 human hemoglobin and human D-dimer as combined immunochemical markers to support assessment of blood origin 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 duplex detection of hemoglobin and D-dimer supports differentiation between peripheral and menstrual blood, providing additional information for case assessment.
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.
Hemoglobin and D-dimer markers: The PMB Test detects human hemoglobin together with human D-dimer. The combined result pattern supports the differentiation of menstrual from peripheral blood. Interpretation must be contextualised within the full body of casework evidence and according to the laboratory's validated SOP.
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 duplex 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.
Duplex Lateral Flow Migration
Allow the sample to migrate across the nitrocellulose membrane. Hemoglobin and D-dimer present in the extract bind to their respective antibody conjugates and migrate to two separate test line regions. 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). The combined pattern of the hemoglobin and D-dimer test lines, alongside the control line, supports differentiation between peripheral and menstrual blood. 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 reflect the combined detection of human hemoglobin and human D-dimer. All results must be interpreted within the full forensic context of the case and according to the laboratory's validated SOP.
Positive Result Pattern
Visible hemoglobin and D-dimer test lines alongside the control line within the validated read window. The combined pattern supports a finding consistent with menstrual blood origin. Document result and interpret in casework context. Record device lot number, read time, and result per laboratory SOP.
Negative Result Pattern
Control line visible with a result pattern not indicative of menstrual blood within the validated read window. Indicates the blood stain is not consistent with a menstrual blood origin at the assay detection thresholds. Document 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 | Duplex lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFA) |
| Detection format | Qualitative |
| Target analytes | Human hemoglobin and human D-dimer |
| Biological marker for | Menstrual blood (combined hemoglobin and D-dimer pattern supports differentiation 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 — hemoglobin test line, D-dimer test line, and control line (C) on duplex lateral flow membrane |
| Result pattern | Combined hemoglobin and D-dimer line pattern interpreted per IFU to support menstrual vs. peripheral blood differentiation |
| 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 |
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 rapid 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 human hemoglobin and human D-dimer and must be interpreted in the context of all available casework information. A 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Seratec PMB Test for forensic menstrual blood differentiation.
The Seratec PMB Test is a duplex lateral flow assay for the simultaneous detection of human hemoglobin and human D-dimer. The combined interpretation of these two markers supports the differentiation of peripheral venous blood from menstrual blood in forensic stain extracts. 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.
Hemoglobin is the iron-containing oxygen-transport protein present in red blood cells and indicates the presence of blood generally. D-dimer is a fibrin degradation product that reflects fibrinolytic activity. Menstrual blood exhibits increased fibrinolytic activity compared to peripheral venous blood, resulting in elevated D-dimer levels. By combining detection of hemoglobin with detection of D-dimer in a duplex format, the PMB Test supports differentiation between peripheral blood, where D-dimer levels are typically lower, and menstrual blood, where D-dimer levels are typically elevated. The result must be interpreted in the full forensic context and according to the laboratory's validated SOP.
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 exhibits increased fibrinolytic activity — resulting in elevated D-dimer levels and reduced fibrin clot formation, explaining the characteristically lower viscosity of menstrual discharge. The PMB Test targets human hemoglobin together with human D-dimer as the combined immunochemical basis for differentiation. 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 hemoglobin and D-dimer 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 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). The PMB Test produces a duplex result with separate test lines for hemoglobin and D-dimer, alongside a control line. The combined line pattern supports differentiation between peripheral and menstrual blood. 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 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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