NCJ Number
88845
Date Published
1981
Length
47 pages
Annotation
In forensic serology, the material used in the testing and the analyst's interpretive standards can affect test results and render them unreliable.
Abstract
Various factors may affect the outcome of the serological test. In absorption inhibition, one area of critical importance is the dilution of the antiserum prior to the test. The antiserum must be sufficiently strong (contain sufficient antibody) to cause obvious and unmistakable agglutination of red blood cells bearing its corresponding antigen. The available antisera are often below standard. Just as the material used can affect the test outcome, so may analyst error. The washing step in Rh absorption elution testing is particularly troublesome. Also, in many cases, the result of a serological test is a visual pattern the analyst must interpret. The interpretive process involves the analyst's comparison of the test result with exemplars of known blood types. It is important that controls be used in this process. The current state of the art does not permit the identification of a particular person as the source of a blood stain. Rather, the analyst needs a data base to evaluate the significance of a match in blood types. These data are required for properly evaluating the weight of the serological evidence. Key terms in forensic serology are presented and explained, and population data and 11 bibliographic entries are provided.