[Differential diagnostics of meconium and feces in traces on material evidences]

The objective of the study was to develop methods of determining the presence of meconium and feces in traces on material evidences and criteria for differential diagnostics of these secretions. The authors studied morphological, enzyme and pigment compositions of the samples of meconium obtained from fetus corpses, alive newborns, and that of feces obtained from adults, with the storage age at the laboratory from three days to two years. There are presented the study outcomes in traces on material evidences obtained by the following methods: light and luminescence microscopy with the use of starch-agar gel samples, substrate film method, a modified Pettenkofer reaction, spectrophotometry, and ascending thin layer chromatography. While studying meconium and feces, the authors revealed differences in their morphological, enzyme and pigment compositions; these data can be used in their differential diagnosis. The authors elaborated methods of determining the presence of the mentioned secretions; these methods could increase the efficiency of forensic biological examinations.