NCJ Number
145583
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1993) Pages: 69-80
Date Published
1993
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A study that examined the appropriateness of a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for detecting SP1, a blood protein specific to pregnancy, concluded that such an approach would be useful in investigating crime scenes where pregnant or recently postpartum women are involved.
Abstract
The immunoassay, SP1 ELISA, was applied to 770 post- mortem dried bloodstains from males, nonpregnant females, and pregnant females. Results revealed that circulatory SP1 was detected up to 8 days postpartum. The stability of SP1 in dried bloodstains was monitored by exposing the stains to numerous environmental conditions where the presence of proteases were evaluated as a possible external parameter in the assay. Through validation, by demonstrating the specificity of the assay, it was applied to homicide cases, where SP1, in conjunction with genetic marker analysis, proved a very effective identification method. Results indicated that the sensitivity, rapidity, and simplicity of the SP1 ELISA makes it an excellent preliminary or qualitative means of detecting a pregnancy from a blood sample. Figures, tables, and 20 references (Author abstract modified)