Journal Published Online: 17 December 2003
Volume 49, Issue 1

Lugol's Test Reexamined again: Buccal Cells

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Lugol's iodine staining technique was used to examine oral samples from 10 men and 10 women. Examination of saliva samples before and after extraction with water shows that the low levels (49 positive cells and 3,951 negative cells) of glycogen in buccal epithelial cells become even lower after water extraction (0 positive cells and 4,000 negative cells). In addition to the 20 samples used in this paper, 40 oral swabs extracted with water were examined under classroom conditions with much less than 1% of the epithelial cells being positive for glycogen. Furthermore, 119 saliva samples from chewed gauze in sexual assault kits were extracted with water and all of them yielded less than 1% glycogen positive cells. This paper proposes that when more than 1% of the nucleated squamous epithelial cells are glycogen positive with Lugol's test after extraction in water, it is reasonable to eliminate the mouth as a source of these glycogen positive cells.

Author Information

Jones, EL
Forensic scientist, Ventura County Sheriff's Department Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Ventura, CA
Leon, JA
Forensic scientist, Ventura County Sheriff's Department Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Ventura, CA
Pages: 4
Price: $25.00
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Stock #: JFS2003129
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2003129