PMID- 10888788
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20000809
LR  - 20210527
IS  - 0003-9985 (Print)
IS  - 0003-9985 (Linking)
VI  - 124
IP  - 7
DP  - 2000 Jul
TI  - Identification of female cells in postcoital penile swabs using fluorescence in 
      situ hybridization.
PG  - 1080-2
AB  - Traditionally, the finding of semen, that is, spermatozoa and acid phosphatase, 
      in cervicovaginal specimens has been considered the laboratory evidence needed to 
      prove recent sexual contact. Recent research with fluorescence in situ 
      hybridization (FISH) has shown that in the absence of semen, male epithelial and 
      inflammatory cells can be found within the female genital tract. A striking 
      paucity of literature exists pertaining to the examination of the penis of an 
      alleged assailant for potential evidence indicative of sexual assault. The 
      current study uses FISH to analyzepostcoital swabs of the penis for such 
      laboratory evidence. A male and female volunteer couple consented to participate 
      in this study. Following coitus, the male partner presented to one of the 
      investigators for penile swabbing. Swabs were taken at varying postcoital 
      intervals (1-24 hours) subsequent to 10 coital episodes. The male participant was 
      instructed not to shower following coitus, but to otherwise go about daily 
      activities until specimen collection. To obtain each sample, 4 sterile 
      cotton-tipped applicators were slightly moistened in sterile saline and swabbed 
      along the length of the penile shaft and around the base of the penis. From the 
      swabs, 3 air-dried slides were prepared, coded, and blinded. As controls, swabs 
      were taken from the buccal surfaces of both volunteers. Multicolor FISH was 
      performed using dual X- and Y-chromosome probes, and slides were counterstained 
      with 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Cells were easily visualized under a 
      fluorescent microscope, but only cells with 2 nonoverlapping fluorescent signals 
      were counted. Fluorescence in situ hybridization is highly sensitive and 
      specific, and the dual probes easily distinguished between male and female cells. 
      Female cells were identified on smears from every penile swab over the entire 1- 
      to 24-hour postcoital interval. The FISH technique, previously successful in 
      identifying male cells within the female genital tract, may also be employed on 
      penile swabs. Once the presence of female cells is confirmed by FISH, the 
      identity of the female can be confirmed by DNA analysis. Potentially, with such 
      current molecular analyses, both the assailant and the victim can be positively 
      identified.
FAU - Collins, K A
AU  - Collins KA
AD  - Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Pathology and Laboratory 
      Medicine, Forensic Section, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
FAU - Cina, M S
AU  - Cina MS
FAU - Pettenati, M J
AU  - Pettenati MJ
FAU - Fitts, M
AU  - Fitts M
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - United States
TA  - Arch Pathol Lab Med
JT  - Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine
JID - 7607091
SB  - IM
MH  - *Coitus
MH  - Cytodiagnosis/methods
MH  - Female
MH  - Forensic Medicine/methods
MH  - Humans
MH  - *In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
MH  - Male
MH  - Penis/*cytology
MH  - Rape/*diagnosis
MH  - X Chromosome/genetics
MH  - Y Chromosome/genetics
EDAT- 2000/07/11 11:00
MHDA- 2000/08/12 11:00
CRDT- 2000/07/11 11:00
PHST- 2000/07/11 11:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2000/08/12 11:00 [medline]
PHST- 2000/07/11 11:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.5858/2000-124-1080-IOFCIP [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2000 Jul;124(7):1080-2. doi: 10.5858/2000-124-1080-IOFCIP.