Routine use of ultraviolet light in medicolegal examinations to evaluate stains and skin trauma

TY - JOUR

T1 - Routine use of ultraviolet light in medicolegal examinations to evaluate stains and skin trauma

AU - Lynnerup, N

AU - Hjalgrim, H

AU - Eriksen, B

N1 - Keywords: Aged; Child; Denmark; Female; Forensic Medicine; Humans; Male; Physical Examination; Rape; Saliva; Semen; Ultraviolet Rays

PY - 1995

Y1 - 1995

N2 - The use of ultraviolet light induced fluorescence as an aid in forensic medical examinations of rape victims was evaluated preliminarily in a retrospective, non-consecutive study. In a four-month period, 17 cases were referred by the police for examinations at the Institute of Forensic Pathology. Ultraviolet light illumination (UVI) was used in seven cases, and in six cases fluorescent skin areas were observed. The fluorescence was due to lesions in four cases and stainings with saliva and semen in other two cases. In at least two cases, skin trauma detected with UVI were unobserved in ordinary light. It is concluded that UVI should be a routine part of forensic medical examinations. It may assist the forensic medical examiner in finding skin trauma and in locating stains, thus enabling retrieval of material for serological analyses. UVI is simple to carry out, requiring only a small, portable ultraviolet light source.

AB - The use of ultraviolet light induced fluorescence as an aid in forensic medical examinations of rape victims was evaluated preliminarily in a retrospective, non-consecutive study. In a four-month period, 17 cases were referred by the police for examinations at the Institute of Forensic Pathology. Ultraviolet light illumination (UVI) was used in seven cases, and in six cases fluorescent skin areas were observed. The fluorescence was due to lesions in four cases and stainings with saliva and semen in other two cases. In at least two cases, skin trauma detected with UVI were unobserved in ordinary light. It is concluded that UVI should be a routine part of forensic medical examinations. It may assist the forensic medical examiner in finding skin trauma and in locating stains, thus enabling retrieval of material for serological analyses. UVI is simple to carry out, requiring only a small, portable ultraviolet light source.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 7776867

SN - 0025-8024

VL - 35

SP - 165

EP - 168

JO - Medicine, Science and the Law

JF - Medicine, Science and the Law

IS - 2

ER -