Forensic Blue Swabs are individually wrapped, single-dose applicators. This convenient method dispenses O-Toluidine Blue Dye used to aid in the identification abrasion injury.
In response to a need in forensic nursing practice the Forensic Blue Swab™ was created to rid your exam room of the messy bottles of Toluidine Blue Dye (TBD) that get spilled and most of the time disposed of before you can use even half of the bottle. The National Forensic Nursing Insitute, Inc. has spent the past two years working on the design of the perfect solution to this practice problem. The Forensic Blue Swabs consists of a soft foam tipped swab with a shaft that contains 1% Toluidine Blue Dye Aqueous Solution. While the swab is still in it’s package, squeeze the shaft and the solution is soaked into the swab and ready for application.
In the genital assessment of sexual assault patients the TBD can be used to identify abrasions not seen by the naked eye and sometimes even with the use of a colposcope. There is about 2 milliliters of TBD in each swab which is more than enough for this application. It is important to have forensic protocol that ensures proper timing of the application of TBD. The Forensic Blue Swab should be used after external evidence collection and before the speculum examination in females.