Sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE) kit
Definition
The standardised collection kit used by trained healthcare providers to obtain biological samples from a survivor within a defined collection window, typically 72 to 120 hours. Contains swabs for vaginal, cervical, oral, and anal collection, reference blood and buccal samples, fingernail scrapings, and clothing packaging materials. The kit is sealed and transferred under chain of custody to the forensic laboratory.
Related terms
- Alpha-amylase (salivary isoform)
- An enzyme present in saliva at concentrations several orders of magnitude higher than in other body fluids. Detected immunologically using anti-human salivary...
- Inhibition agglutination assay
- A serological technique for detecting soluble antigens in body-fluid extracts. Known antibody is incubated with the stain extract; if the target antigen...
- Lateral-flow immunochromatographic strip
- A point-of-care format immunoassay in which a sample migrates along a nitrocellulose membrane past a labelled antibody zone and a capture antibody...
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
- A serine protease glycoprotein (also called p30) secreted in high concentrations by the prostate gland into seminal plasma. The primary immunological marker...
- Secretor
- An individual whose ABO blood group antigens are expressed on red blood cells and also released into body fluids such as saliva,...
Explained in
- Immunological Methods in Sexual Assault InvestigationsThe standardised collection kit used by trained healthcare providers to obtain biological samples from a survivor within a defined collection window, typically...