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Stakeholders' perspectives on integrating point-of-care diagnostics into forensic death investigations in South Africa.

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Τίτλος: Stakeholders' perspectives on integrating point-of-care diagnostics into forensic death investigations in South Africa.
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.)
References: J Antimicrob Chemother. 2025 Jan 3;80(1):29-46. (PMID: 39378128)
Qual Manag Health Care. 2023 Jul-Sep 01;32(3):161-169. (PMID: 36007140)
Diagnostics (Basel). 2024 Jul 17;14(14):. (PMID: 39061680)
J Forensic Leg Med. 2020 Apr;71:101933. (PMID: 32342903)
Int J Nurs Pract. 2012 Apr;18(2):188-94. (PMID: 22435983)
Forensic Sci Int. 2016 Sep;266:299-303. (PMID: 27348467)
Fam Pract. 1993 Mar;10(1):76-81. (PMID: 8477899)
Diagnostics (Basel). 2025 Jan 07;15(2):. (PMID: 39857007)
Acad Forensic Pathol. 2020 Dec;10(3-4):115-130. (PMID: 33815633)
Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2022 May;58:102684. (PMID: 35325829)
Diagnostics (Basel). 2017 Jan 08;7(1):. (PMID: 28075337)
Diagnostics (Basel). 2021 Jun 12;11(6):. (PMID: 34204848)
Health Technol Assess. 1998;2(3):i-iv, 1-88. (PMID: 9561895)
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2023 Feb 03;15(1):e1-e9. (PMID: 36861922)
Int J Infect Dis. 2024 May;142:106907. (PMID: 38141961)
Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2016;16(4):415-22. (PMID: 26783053)
Biosensors (Basel). 2020 Sep 24;10(10):. (PMID: 32987809)
Leg Med (Tokyo). 2005 Jul;7(4):230-43. (PMID: 15975517)
PLoS Med. 2022 May 26;19(5):e1004011. (PMID: 35617375)
Clin Microbiol Infect. 2010 Aug;16(8):1062-9. (PMID: 20670288)
Int J Legal Med. 2021 Nov;135(6):2363-2383. (PMID: 34292383)
Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2018 Sep;14(3):322-326. (PMID: 29696506)
Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2021 Feb 1;145(2):168-175. (PMID: 33053162)
Front Psychol. 2023 Jul 03;14:1178560. (PMID: 37465492)
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
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  Data: Stakeholders' perspectives on integrating point-of-care diagnostics into forensic death investigations in South Africa.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Ramatsokotla+S%22">Ramatsokotla S</searchLink>; 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.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Soul+B%22">Soul B</searchLink>; Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Maluleke+K%22">Maluleke K</searchLink>; 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.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Evert+L%22">Evert L</searchLink>; International Committee of the Red Cross, Pretoria, South Africa.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22van+Vurren+SJ%22">van Vurren SJ</searchLink>; Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Chale-Matsau+B%22">Chale-Matsau B</searchLink>; 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.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Mabotja+S%22">Mabotja S</searchLink>; Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Duah+E%22">Duah E</searchLink>; 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.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Mashamba-Thompson+T%22">Mashamba-Thompson T</searchLink>; 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.
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  Data: 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.<br /> (© 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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  Label: References
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  Data: J Antimicrob Chemother. 2025 Jan 3;80(1):29-46. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2239378128%22">39378128)</searchLink><br />Qual Manag Health Care. 2023 Jul-Sep 01;32(3):161-169. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2236007140%22">36007140)</searchLink><br />Diagnostics (Basel). 2024 Jul 17;14(14):. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2239061680%22">39061680)</searchLink><br />J Forensic Leg Med. 2020 Apr;71:101933. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2232342903%22">32342903)</searchLink><br />Int J Nurs Pract. 2012 Apr;18(2):188-94. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2222435983%22">22435983)</searchLink><br />Forensic Sci Int. 2016 Sep;266:299-303. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2227348467%22">27348467)</searchLink><br />Fam Pract. 1993 Mar;10(1):76-81. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%228477899%22">8477899)</searchLink><br />Diagnostics (Basel). 2025 Jan 07;15(2):. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2239857007%22">39857007)</searchLink><br />Acad Forensic Pathol. 2020 Dec;10(3-4):115-130. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2233815633%22">33815633)</searchLink><br />Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2022 May;58:102684. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2235325829%22">35325829)</searchLink><br />Diagnostics (Basel). 2017 Jan 08;7(1):. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2228075337%22">28075337)</searchLink><br />Diagnostics (Basel). 2021 Jun 12;11(6):. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2234204848%22">34204848)</searchLink><br />Health Technol Assess. 1998;2(3):i-iv, 1-88. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%229561895%22">9561895)</searchLink><br />Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2023 Feb 03;15(1):e1-e9. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2236861922%22">36861922)</searchLink><br />Int J Infect Dis. 2024 May;142:106907. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2238141961%22">38141961)</searchLink><br />Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2016;16(4):415-22. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2226783053%22">26783053)</searchLink><br />Biosensors (Basel). 2020 Sep 24;10(10):. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2232987809%22">32987809)</searchLink><br />Leg Med (Tokyo). 2005 Jul;7(4):230-43. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2215975517%22">15975517)</searchLink><br />PLoS Med. 2022 May 26;19(5):e1004011. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2235617375%22">35617375)</searchLink><br />Clin Microbiol Infect. 2010 Aug;16(8):1062-9. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2220670288%22">20670288)</searchLink><br />Int J Legal Med. 2021 Nov;135(6):2363-2383. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2234292383%22">34292383)</searchLink><br />Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2018 Sep;14(3):322-326. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2229696506%22">29696506)</searchLink><br />Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2021 Feb 1;145(2):168-175. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2233053162%22">33053162)</searchLink><br />Front Psychol. 2023 Jul 03;14:1178560. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2237465492%22">37465492)</searchLink>
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