Evidence Collection and Analysis for Touch Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Groping and Sexual Assault Cases.
Julie L Valentine, Paige Presler-Jur, Heather Mills and 1 others
PMID 33843809WHAT IT FOUND
Forensic nurses successfully identified a stranger assailant in a groping assault by collecting touch DNA swabs from the victim's body and clothing after oral evidence was compromised.
Subsequent cases showed 21% of touch-contact-only kits yielded probative DNA profiles.
Key findings
01A forensic nurse examiner collected touch DNA swabs from a victim's abdomen, mouth area, and clothing when oral evidence was lost, leading to a successful prosecution.
02In 118 subsequent groping cases, 21% of sexual assault kits from touch-contact-only assaults produced probative DNA profiles.
03Touch DNA yield is influenced by substrate texture, with rough or porous surfaces like lace retaining more DNA than smooth surfaces like metal buttons.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The primary evidence is a single case report, which cannot establish general efficacy. The subsequent 118 cases are described as a service evaluation or descriptive series without a control group. DNA analysis protocols and laboratory capabilities varied, with Y-STR analysis placed on hold due to resource constraints. The paper relies heavily on general literature about DNA transfer mechanisms rather than original experimental data from the reported cases.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that touch DNA collection is always successful or that every groping case will yield probative evidence. In the series of 42 touch-contact-only kits analyzed, only 21% developed probative profiles, meaning the majority did not. Additionally, eating or drinking before the exam can destroy oral DNA evidence, as seen in the index case.