NCJ Number
60998
Journal
Journal of the Forensic Science Society Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 53-58
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
AN AMYLASE-SENSITIVE PAPER WAS USED TO SCREEN 72 ARTICLES OF CLOTHING FOR SALIVA STAINS AT A FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY.
Abstract
THE GARMENT TO BE SCREENED FOR SALIVA STAINS WAS PLACED ON A FLAT SURFACE AND MOISTENED UNIFORMLY BY SPRAYING WITH DISTILLED WATER. THE TEST PAPER WAS ALSO MOISTENED AND THEN PRESSED ON TOP OF THE GARMENT AND LEFT FOR 15 MINUTES. THE PAPER WAS THEN WASHED UNTIL ANY AREAS CORRESPONDING TO AMYLASE-POSITIVE STAINS APPEARED WHITE ON THE PINK BACKGROUND. THE PAPER WAS DIPPED IN AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE TO INHIBIT ANY REMAINING AMYLASE ACTIVITY AND ALLOWED TO DRY. GARMENTS TESTED HAD BEEN WORN FOR AT LEAST 1 DAY BEFORE TESTING AND WERE SCREENED IMMEDIATELY. GARMENTS WHICH HAD BEEN RECEIVED FOR FORENSIC EXAMINATION AT THE LABORATORY WERE ALSO SCREENED FOR SALIVA STAINS. NONE OF THE CLOTHES HAD BEEN WASHED. IN EVERY CASE AMYLASE-POSITIVE MATERIAL WAS FOUND AS A SPATTER OF SMALL STAINS ON THE UPPER FRONT OF THE GARMENT. OTHER PARTS OF THE GARMENTS, ESPECIALLY CUFFS AND POCKETS, WERE FREQUENTLY STAINED AS WELL. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES THAT ALL CLOTHING MUST BE EXPECTED TO BE STAINED WITH SALIVA AND THE PROBLEMS OF UNWITTINGLY ABO TYPING SALIVA-CONTAMINATED BLOODSTAINS OR CONTROL FIBERS CAN BE AVOIDED BY SCREENING FOR AMYLASE-POSITIVE MATERIAL. REFERENCES ARE LISTED; TABULAR DATA ACCOMPANY THE TEXT. (MJW)