title: Use of an Automated Nested Multiplex Respiratory Pathogen PCR Panel Postmortem in the Pediatric Forensic Setting.
abstract: Respiratory pathogens have been detected in forensic investigations using multiple techniques; however, no study has examined the use of automated, nested, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (ANM-PCR), commonly used in living patients, in the forensic setting. This retrospective study assessed the utility of ANM-PCR in detecting respiratory pathogens in the pediatric forensic setting. Respiratory samples from 35 cases were tested for up to 20 respiratory pathogens. 51.4% of these cases yielded a positive ANM-PCR result, 20% of which were considered the cause of or contributory to death. The most commonly detected pathogens were rhinovirus/enterovirus and respiratory syncytial virus, and these were the only pathogens determined to play a significant role in cause of death. The sampled sites and postmortem intervals tested did not affect the likelihood of a positive or negative test. ANM-PCR panels are effective, affordable, and rapid ancillary tools in evaluating cause of death in the forensic pediatric population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, MSC 908, Charleston, SC, 29425.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, MSC 908, Charleston, SC, 29425.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schandl
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, MSC 908, Charleston, SC, 29425.
authors.forename: Susan Erin
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Presnell
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, MSC 908, Charleston, SC, 29425.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Madory
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, MSC 908, Charleston, SC, 29425.
authors.forename: Frederick S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, MSC 908, Charleston, SC, 29425.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Batalis
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: adenovirus; enterovirus; forensic science; influenza; multiplex polymerase chain reaction; nested polymerase chain reaction; pediatrics; respiratory infection; respiratory syncytial virus; rhinovirus