Discover how cutting-edge ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics are revolutionizing forensic investigations by pinpointing the age of semen stains on various fabrics, a breakthrough in crime scene analysis.
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Estimation of time since deposition of semen stain on different fabric types using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics.
Tastekin et al., Forensic Sci Int 2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111885
New Method for Estimating the Age of Semen Stains on Fabric
This study introduces a novel approach to determine the time since deposition of semen stains on fabric, which is crucial in the investigation of sexual assaults. The method utilizes Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) Spectroscopy in conjunction with chemometric techniques like Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR). The research involved analyzing semen from six volunteers across five different fabric types over 17 time points up to 8 weeks.
The significance of this study lies in its ability to provide highly accurate age estimates of semen stains, with R2 values indicating strong predictive models and low RMSE reflecting precision. The age estimation intervals achieved were:
- 0.39-0.76 days for stains aged 0-7 days
- 2.59-3.38 days for stains aged 1-8 weeks
- 3.98-8.1 days for stains aged 0-56 days
This advancement is important as it contributes a forensic tool for crime scene analysis, potentially aiding in the accurate timing of criminal activities, especially sexual assaults. The study’s findings demonstrate that ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, when paired with PCA and PLSR, can effectively estimate the age of semen stains on various fabrics, enhancing the evidential value of such biological samples.