Sensitivity limit
Definition
The minimum amount of blood (or age/dilution of stain) at which the crystal test can still produce identifiable crystals. Below this threshold the test yields no crystals or atypical fragments.
Related terms
- Confirmatory test
- A species- or analyte-specific test that provides the level of certainty required for a scientific report and court evidence. Immunochromatographic strips targeting...
- Glacial acetic acid
- Concentrated acetic acid (near 100%), used in the Teichmann reagent to provide an acidic medium that helps oxidise haem and incorporate the...
- Haemin (chlorohemin)
- The oxidised, halide-salt form of haem produced in the Teichmann test. Haemin crystals are brown, rhomboid, and form in pairs or groups...
- Haemochromogen
- A reduced haem-nitrogenous-base complex. In the Takayama test, pyridine is the base, giving pyridine haemochromogen: pink, feathery or needle-like crystals.
- Pyridine
- An aromatic nitrogen heterocycle used as a secondary denaturant in Indian denatured spirit formulations (at 1-2% v/v). Its presence in a headspace...
Explained in
- Teichmann and Takayama Crystal TestsThe minimum amount of blood (or age/dilution of stain) at which the crystal test can still produce identifiable crystals. Below this threshold the test yields...