PSA is not suitable as a reliable marker for seminal fluid in rectal samples collected post-mortem
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests are used in forensic examinations of sexual offences to indicate the presence of seminal fluid. Based on a retrospective analysis of 484 forensic samples collected in sexual assault cases, we observed a significant enrichment of potentially misleading tests for...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Forensic Science International: Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910725000052 |
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| author | Corine Müller Elie Pascolo Tièche Martin Zieger |
| author_facet | Corine Müller Elie Pascolo Tièche Martin Zieger |
| author_sort | Corine Müller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests are used in forensic examinations of sexual offences to indicate the presence of seminal fluid. Based on a retrospective analysis of 484 forensic samples collected in sexual assault cases, we observed a significant enrichment of potentially misleading tests for seminal fluid, for samples collected post-mortem. Reduced reliability of PSA testing for the indication of the presence of ejaculate in samples collected post-mortem has already been reported previously. However, previous studies either included only a small number of rectal samples, particularly from female cadavers, or were based on vaginal swabs. In our study, 34 female and 67 male rectal swab samples collected post-mortem were analysed. The rate of positive SERATEC® PSA Semiquant tests was 33 % for women and 67 % for men. Using male specific qPCR, male DNA was detected in only one of the female samples, indicating a high false-positive rate for both sexes when using SERATEC® PSA Semiquant tests as indicators for the presence of seminal liquid post mortem. Different degrees of decomposition showed no significant correlation with the PSA positivity rate. As expected, a significant correlation between the sex of the deceased individuals and the PSA test result could be demonstrated. The study demonstrates the very limited probative value of PSA as a marker for seminal fluid post mortem. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4309d9ee73d24a1cb70b329bfe23020f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2665-9107 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forensic Science International: Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-4309d9ee73d24a1cb70b329bfe23020f2025-01-29T05:01:43ZengElsevierForensic Science International: Reports2665-91072025-07-0111100409PSA is not suitable as a reliable marker for seminal fluid in rectal samples collected post-mortemCorine Müller0Elie Pascolo Tièche1Martin Zieger2Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Molecular Biology Department, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 26, Bern 3008, SwitzerlandInstitute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Molecular Biology Department, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 26, Bern 3008, SwitzerlandCorresponding author.; Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Molecular Biology Department, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 26, Bern 3008, SwitzerlandProstate-specific antigen (PSA) tests are used in forensic examinations of sexual offences to indicate the presence of seminal fluid. Based on a retrospective analysis of 484 forensic samples collected in sexual assault cases, we observed a significant enrichment of potentially misleading tests for seminal fluid, for samples collected post-mortem. Reduced reliability of PSA testing for the indication of the presence of ejaculate in samples collected post-mortem has already been reported previously. However, previous studies either included only a small number of rectal samples, particularly from female cadavers, or were based on vaginal swabs. In our study, 34 female and 67 male rectal swab samples collected post-mortem were analysed. The rate of positive SERATEC® PSA Semiquant tests was 33 % for women and 67 % for men. Using male specific qPCR, male DNA was detected in only one of the female samples, indicating a high false-positive rate for both sexes when using SERATEC® PSA Semiquant tests as indicators for the presence of seminal liquid post mortem. Different degrees of decomposition showed no significant correlation with the PSA positivity rate. As expected, a significant correlation between the sex of the deceased individuals and the PSA test result could be demonstrated. The study demonstrates the very limited probative value of PSA as a marker for seminal fluid post mortem.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910725000052PSAProstate-specific antigenSeminal fluidPost-mortemForensicSexual offence |
| spellingShingle | Corine Müller Elie Pascolo Tièche Martin Zieger PSA is not suitable as a reliable marker for seminal fluid in rectal samples collected post-mortem Forensic Science International: Reports PSA Prostate-specific antigen Seminal fluid Post-mortem Forensic Sexual offence |
| title | PSA is not suitable as a reliable marker for seminal fluid in rectal samples collected post-mortem |
| title_full | PSA is not suitable as a reliable marker for seminal fluid in rectal samples collected post-mortem |
| title_fullStr | PSA is not suitable as a reliable marker for seminal fluid in rectal samples collected post-mortem |
| title_full_unstemmed | PSA is not suitable as a reliable marker for seminal fluid in rectal samples collected post-mortem |
| title_short | PSA is not suitable as a reliable marker for seminal fluid in rectal samples collected post-mortem |
| title_sort | psa is not suitable as a reliable marker for seminal fluid in rectal samples collected post mortem |
| topic | PSA Prostate-specific antigen Seminal fluid Post-mortem Forensic Sexual offence |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910725000052 |
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