Collection of forensic evidence from pediatric victims of sexual assault
Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pediatrics
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the time period after sexual assault of a
child that specimens may yield evidence using DNA amplification. Secondary
questions included the comparative laboratory yields of body
swabs versus other specimens, and the correlation between physical
findings and laboratory results. Data from evidence-collection kits from children
13 years and younger were reviewed. Kits were screened for
evidence using traditional methods, and DNA testing was performed
for positive specimens. Laboratory data were compared with historical
information. There were 277 evidence-collection kits analyzed; 151 were
collected from children younger than 10; 222 kits (80%) had 1 or more
positive laboratory screening test, of which 56 (20%) tested positive by
DNA. The time interval to collection was 24 hours for 30 of the 56
positive kits (68% positives with a documented time interval), and 24
(43% of all positive kits) were positive only by nonbody specimens. The
majority of children with DNA were aged 10 or older, but kits from 14
children younger than 10 also had a positive DNA result, of which 5
were positive by a body swab collected between 7 and 95 hours after
assault. Although body swabs were important sources of evidence for
older children, they were significantly less likely than nonbody specimens
to yield DNA among children younger than 10 (P .002). There
was no correlation between physical findings and laboratory evidence. Body samples should be considered for children beyond
24 hours after assault, although the yield is limited. Physical
examination findings do not predict yield of forensic laboratory tests.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
sexual abuse, child abuse, diagnostic procedures, medical evidence, medical examination
Citation
Girardet, R., Bolton, K., Lahoti, S., Mowbray, H., Giardino, A., Isaac, R., ... & Paes, N. (2011). Collection of forensic evidence from pediatric victims of sexual assault. Pediatrics, 128(2), 233-238.