A Quick Qualitative Test for Identifying Human Blood Meal in Fed Female Mosquitoes

Abstract

A one step, double antibody sandwich chromatographic immunoassay test known as Faecal Occult Blood Test,
normally used for screening of human patients suspected of colo-rectal carcinoma, was found to be a useful quick
qualitative simple test in identifying human blood in engorged abdomens and filter paper smears of fed female
mosquitoes. Compared to other specific sensitive tests like PCR, it is simple, field operated, read in only two
minutes time and can trace human haemoglobin 72 hrs post mosquito feeding. It is endorsed in epidemiological
investigations and as a preliminary screening test in crime scene investigations before the more reliable tests looking
for specific DNA are applied.