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Povidone Iodine Rectal Preparation at Time of Prostate Needle Biopsy is a Simple and Reproducible Means to Reduce Risk of Procedural Infection
Published on: September 21, 2015
Positive prostate-specific antigen (PSA) reaction in post-mortem rectal swabs: a cautionary note.
Philippe Lunetta1, Helmuth Sippel
1Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. philippe.lunetta@helsinki.fi
Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
|September 8, 2009
Summary
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing on post-mortem rectal swabs is unreliable, especially in decomposed bodies. This forensic method can yield misleading results in autopsy cases.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Biochemistry
- Toxicology
Background:
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests are used for semen detection in sexual abuse cases.
- Reliability of PSA tests on post-mortem (PM) rectal swabs, particularly in decomposed bodies, is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the reliability of PSA membrane tests on post-mortem rectal swabs from decomposed cadavers.
Main Methods:
- Seratec PSA Semiquant Kit test and Phosphatesmo KM Paper Test for acid phosphatase (AP) were used.
- Rectal swabs from 39 males and 10 females with varying post-mortem intervals (up to 136 days) were analyzed.
- Y STR multiplex was performed on PSA-positive samples.
Main Results:
- 64% of male cadavers tested positive for PSA, with higher rates in decomposed bodies (70%) vs. non-decomposed (58%).
- AP tests were positive in 60% of decomposed male rectal swabs.
- All female samples tested negative for both PSA and AP. DNA analysis confirmed subject's DNA only.
Conclusions:
- PSA membrane tests are unreliable for male rectal samples obtained during autopsy.
- These tests can be misleading in forensic examinations of decomposed cadavers.
