Role of Pathology laboratory in detecting Sexual assault

Abstract

Sexual assault is prevalent in our society & is usually unwitnessed & prosecution needs support of laboratory evidence in the court room. Simple laboratory methods with lapse of time may fail to collect evidences but Better staining techniques, chemical analysis & applications of molecular pathology are now able to bring positive proof against the assailants in the court room. Introduction Sexual assault continues to prevail in our country. The act of Sexual assault is usually unwitnessed, therefore victim’s claim of assault needs support of corroborating laboratory evidence. As a pathologist we enter the realm of sexual assault with a definite challenge to examine four areas – (1) Can we prove sexual contact occurred? (2) When did the assault occur? (3) How can we best document our evidence? (4) Who is the assailant? With the discovery of better staining techniques (pap stain, chrimas tree stain) chemical analysis & molecular pathology we are now able to bring our laboratory in the court room & use our knowledge to bring positive proof against the assailant. Most cases of sexual assaults especially in adult victims involve penile penetration in to vagina, rectum or mouth. Vaginal penetration occurs in approx 90% cases. In order to address these areas a knowledge of semen, spermatozoa & physical examination of collection of lab evidence is crucial. Ejacualate or semen – Composed of Seminal Fluid ------------------60% Prostatic secretion---------------------20% Secretion of bulbourethral glands & Urethral glands ----------------------15% Spermatozoa ---------------------------05% Normal volume of ejaculate is 1.5 ml to 5.0 ml & contains 60 to 200 million spermatazoa per ml. Semen is also rich in fructose sugar (200 mg/dl). Seminal vesical is the source of fructose in semen. This is used by spermatozoa as an energy source Fructose negative may indicate an absence of seminal vesicle, absence of vas deference or an obstruction at the level of seminal vesicle. Diminished level of fructose have been shown in andogen deficiency. Absence of fructose may mean vasdeferens obstruction at or before ejaculatory ducts. The first fraction of ejaculate is rich in sperms. Prostatic fluid of semer contains Acid phosphatase & spermine phosphate. http://jmscr.igmpublication.org/home/ ISSN (e)-2347-176x ISSN (p) 2455-0450 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i11.175