Contribution to the Development of Guidelines in the Analysis of Biological Evidence in Sexual Assault Investigations

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

Laura Cainé (Collaborator) FMUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Forensic Sciences

Vol. 64

Pages: 534-538

ISSN: 0022-1198

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 1 Citation

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Q-AM0

DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13879

Abstract (EN): This investigation intends to study materials and techniques used for biological evidence collection in sexual assault cases and is divided into two stages: in stage one, methods for biological evidence collection (the single swab (including three variants) and the "double swab technique") were compared; in stage two, swabs' component material was compared. The sampling was composed of 42 heterosexual couples who provided mock samples. The collection methods in which the whole swab is covered by evidence presented significantly better outcomes (p < 0.001), such as the "double swab technique." Additionally, nylon swabs proved to present significantly better features regarding the capacity of sample elution, providing significantly higher amounts of DNA (p <= 0.034). This study provides guidelines for better collection of biological evidence regarding the collection method using a swab and the proper swab material to utilize.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 5