Point-of-care testing devices for on-site forensic analysis: advances, challenges, and trends in electrochemical and colorimetric sensing

This review explores recent advances in point-of-care testing (POCT) for on-site forensics applications, focusing progress on sensing platforms, miniaturization, and artificial intelligence integration. Emphasis is placed on electrochemical and colorimetric sensing platforms that enable rapid detection of relevant analytes, such as drugs of abuse, gunshot residues, explosives, environmental toxins and forensic biomarkers, among others, directly at the crime scene or in the field. Innovations such as smartphone-based readouts, 3D-printed components, and hybrid sensing strategies are discussed regarding their context of enhancing usability, sensitivity, and selectivity. Likewise, the review addresses critical barriers to adoption, including environmental robustness, analytical validation, and legal admissibility. By evaluating both the scientific and practical aspects of forensic POCT development occurred from 2019 to the present, this review provides a critical perspective on how modern POCT innovations are transforming forensic investigations, enabling faster decision-making and improving the reliability of evidence analysis directly at the crime scene.