title: Identification of male epithelial cells in routine postcoital cervicovaginal smears using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Application in sexual assault and molestation.
abstract: In a prospective blinded controlled study, the efficacy of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to detect non-sperm male cells verifying sexual contact was examined. Cervicovaginal smears (CVS) from 40 women with reported post-coital intervals were examined for sperm by cytology and for sperm and non-sperm male cells by FISH using X and Y chromosome specific DNA probes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization identified sperm and/or non-sperm male cells in all specimens from women with positive coital histories, including when the partner had a vasectomy. Male cells were also detectable by FISH in CVS up to 3 weeks after coitus. In comparison, cytology identified sperm in 41% of the positive coital history cases, and none beyond 2 weeks. Fluorescence in situ hybridization is highly sensitive and specific in detecting male cells, and can be performed rapidly on routine CVS. Application of this technique can provide new and additional evidence of sexual contact when current tests are inconclusive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Roa
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Geisinger
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schnell
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hayworth-Hodge
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Tap
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lantz
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pettenati
mesh_terms: D003075:Coitus; D015342:DNA Probes; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011902:Rape / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000592:standards*; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes