NCJ Number
83001
Date Published
1976
Length
95 pages
Annotation
England's Forensic Science Service has been reorganized; it now has a biololgy division, a chemistry division, a drugs and toxicology division, and an information division.
Abstract
It has equipped all operational laboratories with an automated blood dilution machine. Automatic quantitative analysis of ABO blood-group substances in body secretions is resulting in greater understanding of the properties of these substances and may improve methods of grouping semen stains in sexual offenses. The use of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry has proved valuable in discriminating paint flakes and other trace materials. The Service has progressed in developing methods for the detection of explosives residues, with the development of a simple but effective kit for taking samples from a suspect. Finally, a major advance in drug analysis has been the use of the proteolytic enzyme subtilisin to digest tissues prior to extraction. Division reports are given. Lists of staff members, current projects, external contracts, and publications are appended.