Science & Justice
Volume 47, Issue 4 , Pages 160-167, December 2007

A comparison of methods used in the UK and Ireland for the extraction and detection of semen on swabs and cloth samples

  • J.E. Allard

      Affiliations

    • Forensic Science Service, 109 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7LP, United Kingdom
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.
    • ,
  • A. Baird

      Affiliations

    • Forensic Science Northern Ireland, 151 Belfast Road, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, BT38 8PL, Northern Ireland
    • ,
  • G. Davidson

      Affiliations

    • LGC Forensics Alliance, Birchwood Park, Darwin House, Faraday Road, Risley, Warrington, WA3 6AT, United Kingdom
    • Now at Forensic Science Service Chorley.
    • ,
  • S. Jones

      Affiliations

    • Grampian Police Forensic Laboratory, Nelson Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5EQ, United Kingdom
    • New Scottish Police Services Authority.
    • ,
  • J. Lewis

      Affiliations

    • LGC Forensics Alliance, Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 3ED, United Kingdom
    • Now at Cellmark Forensic Services, Abingdon.
    • ,
  • L. McKenna

      Affiliations

    • Forensic Science Laboratory, Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, Ireland
    • ,
  • C. Weston

      Affiliations

    • Strathclyde Police Forensic Support Department, Police HQ, 173 Pitt St, Glasgow G2 4JS, United Kingdom
    • New Scottish Police Services Authority.
    • ,
  • D. Scrimger

      Affiliations

    • Lothian and Borders Police Forensic Science Laboratory, 11 Howden Hall Road, Edinburgh, EH16 6TL, United Kingdom
    • New Scottish Police Services Authority.
    • ,
  • G. Teppett

      Affiliations

    • Police Forensic Science Laboratory Dundee Tayside Police HQ, West Bell St, Dundee DD1 9JU, United Kingdom
    • New Scottish Police Services Authority.

Accepted 26 September 2007. published online 12 November 2007.

Abstract 

The recent formation of a United Kingdom and Irish working group, the Body Fluids Forum (BFF), highlighted the need to investigate different working practices prior to any inter-laboratory comparison work and identification of best practice. Various dilutions of semen were seeded onto swabs and cloth samples for each BFF member laboratory to test using their standard techniques. The results showed that the detection of acid phosphatase on swabs is best achieved using direct testing rather than on an extract from the swab. Extraction methods for spermatozoa require a balance to be achieved between using a sufficient volume of water to ensure optimal release and minimal volume to ensure a concentrated extract. PSA tests were investigated and found to be more sensitive than Choline. DNA profiles were obtained from samples in which no spermatozoa had been detected during microscopic examination.

Keywords: Forensic science, Semen, Extraction, Swab, Cloth, Body Fluid Forum

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PII: S1355-0306(07)00098-6

doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2007.09.010

Refers to erratum:

  • Erratum to ‘‘A comparison of methods used in the UK and Ireland for the extraction and detection of semen on swabs and cloth samples” [Science and Justice 47/4 (2007) 160–167] , 18 February 2008

    J.E. Allard, A. Baird, G. Davidson, S. Jones, J. Lewis, L. McKenna, C. Weston, D. Scrimger, G. Teppett
    Science & Justice June 2008 (Vol. 48, Issue 2, Page 102)

Science & Justice
Volume 47, Issue 4 , Pages 160-167, December 2007

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