ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 January 1985
Page Count: 6

Enzyme Assays for the Identification of Gastric Fluid
Galvin, C
Chief medical examiner, State of Connecticut, Office of Chief Medical Examiner, CT

Pagliaro, EM
senior criminalist, Connecticut State Police Forensic Science Laboratory, CT

Lee, HC
Chief criminalist and director, Connecticut State Police Forensic Science Laboratory, CT

Gaensslen, RE
Professor and director of forensic science, University of New Haven, CT

(Received 21 May 1984; accepted 8 June 1984)

Abstract

Simple, reliable procedures for the assay of pepsin and rennin-like enzyme activities are described as a means of identifying gastric fluid-containing samples in forensic science laboratories. These samples are usually vomitus, or stomach contents originating from wounds that perforate the stomach. They may be encountered at scenes or on articles submitted for examination, in fresh form or as dried stains. The pepsin activity assay is based on proteolytic activity with bovine albumin as substrate and the rennin-like activity assay is based on the coagulation of milk protein.

Keywords:
forensic science, body fluids, enzymes, gastric fluid, stain, body fluid identification, stomach contents, pepsin, rennin, enzyme assay

Paper ID: JFS10969J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10969J
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