[Evidence of pregnancy in blood stains]

Evidence of pregnancy in blood traces is important for proving murder of the newborn child by the mother or illegal abortion. By immunoprecipitation in a semi-solid medium (by double radial immunodiffusion, counter-current immunoelectrophoresis), using antiserum of their own production, the authors proved in blood traces a specific gestational product--SP1 (Schwangerschaftspezifisches beta-1-Glykoprotein, PS-beta-G, TSG, PAPP-C). The authors examined a total of 172 blood traces on cloth from pregnancies of different stages (37 from the first trimester, 34 from the beginning of the second half of pregnancies and 101 at term) as extracts from the blood stain or particles of the blood stains on a slide. The reliability was 91--95%. Hitherto used methods were based on detection of choriogonadotropic hormone. Detection of SP1 can be considered reliable evidence of pregnancy. It was possible to detect it in blood traces starting with the fourth month of pregnancy.