Developmental Validation of the SPERM HY-LITER Kit for the Identification of Human Spermatozoa in Forensic Samples

• NCJ Number: 235781
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2011 Pages: 853-865
• Author(s): Kevin W.P. Miller, Ph.D.; Jennifer Old, Ph.D.; Brian R. Fischer, B.S.; Brett Schweers, Ph.D.; Simona Stipinaite, B.S.; Karl Reich, Ph.D.
• Date Published: July 2011
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Test/Measurement; Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented in part at the 19th International Symposium on Human Identification, October 13-16, 2008, in Hollywood, CA.

Annotation

This article describes the developmental validation of the SPERM HY-LITER kit, which contains a human sperm-specific mouse monoclonal antibody coupled to a fluorescent Alexa 488 dye.

Abstract

With sexual assault evidence, the visualization of spermatozoa confirms that ejaculation has occurred; however, microscopic examination of spermatozoa is a laborious process and can sometimes result in sperm cells being overlooked. The kit was tested using samples of human semen, saliva, blood, and urine, various animal semen extracts, sexual lubricants, and a commercially available spermicidal film. Postcoital vaginal swabs, degraded semen samples, and samples prepared with sample fixation techniques that deviated from the kit-provided protocol were also tested. In each case, the SPERM HY-LITER kit was demonstrated to bind only to human sperm cell heads. Limitations to this fluorescent staining procedure include nonspecific staining and increased background fluorescence with extreme heat fixation in some samples. (Published Abstract)