ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 July 1981
Page Count: 3

The Importance of Examining Skin and Hair for Semen in Sexual Assault Cases
Beyer, JC
Deputy chief medical examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner,

Enos, WF
Chief pathologist, Northern Virginia Doctors Hospital, Va.

(Received 30 October 1980; accepted 19 January 1980)

Abstract

In some cases of sexual assault, the only laboratory proof of the allegation is by examining hair or skin for semen. The anatomic areas examined, depending on the history of the event, are head and facial hair and the skin of the perioral area, medial aspects of the thighs, and the buttocks. Head hair is clipped and eluted in saline, from which Pap smears and acid phosphatase determinations are made. The skin is smeared with saline-soaked cotton applicators, from which the above tests are run. Positive skin tests of the thighs or buttocks are also helpful in setting the time of the event and substantiating the allegation of rape, depending upon the history of bathing. Eight cases that illustrate these facts are presented.

Keywords:
pathology and biology, criminal sex offenses, skin, hair

Paper ID: JFS11407J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11407J
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