Academic Journal
Stakeholders' perspectives on integrating point-of-care diagnostics into forensic death investigations in South Africa.
| Τίτλος: | Stakeholders' perspectives on integrating point-of-care diagnostics into forensic death investigations in South Africa. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Ramatsokotla S; Centre for Development and Implementation of Point-of-Care Diagnostics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.; Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa., Soul B; Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa., Maluleke K; Centre for Development and Implementation of Point-of-Care Diagnostics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.; School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa., Evert L; International Committee of the Red Cross, Pretoria, South Africa., van Vurren SJ; Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa., Chale-Matsau B; Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.; Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa.; National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa., Mabotja S; Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa., Duah E; Centre for Development and Implementation of Point-of-Care Diagnostics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.; School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa., Mashamba-Thompson T; Centre for Development and Implementation of Point-of-Care Diagnostics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.; School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. |
| Πηγή: | Journal of forensic sciences [J Forensic Sci] 2026 Sep; Vol. 71 (5), pp. 2182-2192. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 19. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Blackwell Pub Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0375370 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1556-4029 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00221198 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Forensic Sci Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 2006- : Malden, MA : Blackwell Pub. Original Publication: [Chicago, Ill.] : Callaghan and Co., 1956- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Point-of-Care Systems* , Attitude of Health Personnel* , Forensic Sciences*, Humans ; South Africa ; Autopsy |
| Περίληψη: | Unnatural and unexplained deaths present critical challenges to the criminal justice, medico-legal, and public health systems. This study explored forensic professionals' perspectives on the integration of point-of-care (POC) diagnostics into unnatural death investigations in South Africa. A Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was conducted with eight key forensic stakeholders to identify and prioritize the potential benefits, facilitators, and barriers associated with POC implementation. Stakeholders ranked guidance for investigation and autopsy, improved turnaround times, and resource efficiency as the most significant POC diagnostic benefits. Scientific validity, quality assurance, and alignment with legal and regulatory frameworks were identified as critical facilitators, whereas technical limitations, quality management gaps, and legal uncertainties emerged as key barriers. Participants emphasized that POC diagnostics could support timely decision-making during death scene investigations and autopsies, reduce laboratory backlogs, and improve family and community outcomes through faster case resolution. However, successful integration requires standardized protocols, validation, and appropriate training to ensure scientific and legal defensibility. These findings provide foundational evidence to inform the responsible integration of POC diagnostics into forensic death investigations, with potential benefits for justice delivery and community health in South Africa. (© 2026 The Author(s). Journal of Forensic Sciences published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Forensic Sciences.) |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: POC diagnostics; forensic death investigation; nominal group technique; point‐of‐care testing; quality assurance; sub‐Saharan Africa |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260620 Date Completed: 20260902 Latest Revision: 20260904 |
| Update Code: | 20260904 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13534864 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/1556-4029.70390 |
| PMID: | 42322009 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1556-4029 |
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| DOI: | 10.1111/1556-4029.70390 |