DETECTION OF ABO (H) BLOOD GROUP SUBSTANCES FROM HAIR UNDER THREE DIFFERENT CONDITIONS (ROOM TEMPERATURE, WATER IMMERSION AND SOIL BURIAL)

Detection of ABO(H) Blood Group Substances From Hair

Under

Three

Different Conditions (Room Temperature,

Water Immersion and Soil Burial)

RAKESH KUMAR GARG, PRABHJIT KAUR SANDHU

Forensic Science Department, Punjabi University, Patiala - 147002, India

Summary

Human hair of known blood groups obtained from thirty five different individuals have been examined for the detection of ABO(H) substances exposed under three different conditions (room temperature, water

immersion and soil burial) until two weeks times. The percentage of positive results were 82.84, 79.98 and

79.12 respectively under these conditions by absorption elution technique (simple) while with absorption elution using low ionic strength solution CLlSS) is 97.14, 94,28 and 82.84 respectively after two weeks. These findings indicate that soil is the most affecting factor studied in this investigation and absorption

elution method CLlSS) is more sensitive and suitable as compared to the simple absorption elution. It is

expected that the study will be useful in the examination of hair samples received from exhumed or drowned bodies in forensic investigations.

Key words: ABO(H) Blood group substances -Hair investigation

INTRODUCTION

Hair is one of the most frequently occuring biological evidence in crime investigations such as assaults, murders, sexual offences and its examination is useful for personal identifications and comparison. Although the hair characterization is done routinely in almost all forensic science laboratories of the world, yet the results are not encouraging. According to De Forest and Kirk (I) "It is doubtful that anyone can claim individualization for a single hair, although elimination of a suspect may be readily possible at times. The evidential value of hair in the forensic context appears to be limited as no reliable means of characterization has yet been developed which allows the individualization of human hair (2). Therefore, it has long been the endeavour of the

forensic scientists to be able to individualise from the biological material with the same degree of certainty as fingerprints. The arrival of DNA fingerprints- as developed by Alec Jeffreys et aI. (1985) at Leicester University is a big step dowards the forensic

scientist's goal in this area. It is possible to obtain results with the DNA- fingerprint test in nearly all cases including hair in which there is sufficient biological evidence.

These statements sums up the prevailing view of forensic scientists that the value of hair examination is extremely limited. The detection of ABO(H) substances from hair has been attempted by different investigators with varied success (3-25). Although the

Adli TIp Derg., 8, 65 -68 (1992)

ADL

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Journal of Forensic Medicine

66 RAKESH KUMAR GARG, PRABHJIT KAUR SANDHU authors are aware of the different factors which could afect the results to a different degree depending on the type of soil, depth, condition of the soil and the presence of microbial organism therein. The hair can withstand adverse conditions as compared to the other biological material and is not easily destroyed even after extensive fluid and tissue decomposition in post-mortem cases. The current investigation has certain limitation in respect of the above mentioned factors unstudied, however, it is felt that the preliminary investigation initiated on thes line on account of large discrepancies in the available data and lack of information will be quite useful.

MA TERIAL and METHOD

Scalp hair from 35 different individuals were collected from Punjabi University, Patiala, in serially marked envelopes. During the collection of the samples, care was used that the individual is not using any hair dye. About 15-20 hair strands were obtained from each subject.

Each hair sample was divided into three equal portions and kept in three different conditions as given below:

I. First set of hair were kept at room temperature (range of temp. 28-40±5 in the month of May to June).

2. Second set of hair were left immersed in the tap water until two weeks and 3. Third set of hair were embedded in the soil until two weeks.

Alongwith each hair sample collection, ICw drops of fresh blood were also analysed by slide technique for ABO (H) antigens (26) detection for comparison.

The hair samples after exposure to the particular condition were treated and flattened as suggested

earlier (25). These t1attencd hair were analysed for the presence of ABH antigens periodically (24 hours, I wk and 2nd week) by absorption elution (27) and absorption elution with low ionic strength solution (27 and 28). Adequate controls of blood and hair of known individuals were maintained. Anti-A and anti-B sera were obtained efrom Haffkeinc, Institute, Bombay and anti-H was prepared from ulex curopaeus secds in the laboratory.

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

The results of ABH antigen detection from hair under three different conditions (room temperature, water and soil) by simple absorption elution are given in Table I. It is evident from the table that the results are more positive at room temperature than the other two conditions. The percentage of positive results has been observed to be 82.84, 79.98 and 77.12 respectively until the period of analysis. The percentage of positive results is observed to be lower in hair samples embedded in the soil than the two other conditions studied. In one of the soil buried hair sample of '0' blood group individual, it has been detected to be B after two weeks time which may be because of the presence of bacteria or bacterial enzyme (29-31).

The results of the detection of ABO(H) substances from hair under three different conditions by the application of absorption elution technique with low ionic strength solution are given in table II. The percentage of positive results is slightly higher as compared to simple absorption elution (97.14, 94.28 and 82.84). In this case one sample of each 'B' and '0' blood group was in correctly typed under the soil buried condition after two weeks of analysis. The introduction of low ionic strength solution in absorption elution method increased the sensitivity and the reaction intensity. The

Detection of ABO(H) Blood Group Substances From HaiL .. 67

findings of negative results may be assigned to the variations In the amount of antigenic substances in the samples under investigations or to the lack of more sensitive technique to detect the minutes amount present. This study indicates that the soil burial effects the ABO(H) substances detection more readily as compared to the other factors and similar type of observations has been made by Yamasawa and Ohbora (32). The application of absorption elution with low ionic strength solution is more suitable for the detectability of ABH substances from hair undergone various conditions. Further studies on the detection of ABH substances from hair under various conditions and with prolonged time are in progress. It is expected that the study will be helpful in the analysis of hair samples for ABH substances examination in exhumation as well as drowning cases in forensic investigations.

Table L ABH typing from hair by simple absorption elution under three different conditions (RT, water, soil).

Room Te!Dper~ture Water Soli

Blood

Group No. 24 hrs. I Week 2nd Week 24 hrs. I Week 2nd Week 24 hrs. I Week 2nd Week

+ + + + + + + + + A 6 5 5 I 5 5 I 5 I 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 B 14 12 2 12 2 1 2 12 2 11 3 11 3 12 2 11 3 11 3 0 13 10 3 10 3 to 3 10 3 10 3 10 3 10 3 10 3 8 5* AB 2 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Total 35 29 6 29 6 29 6 29 6 28 7 28 7 29 6 28 7 26 9 (82.84) (82.84) (8284) (82.84) (79.98) (79.98) (82.84) (8284) (74.30) (1716) (17.16) (17.16) (17.16) (20.02) (2002) (1716) (20.02) (24.70)

+ Positive, - Negative, '" Includes incorrect results Figures in Parenthesis indicate percentage

Table II. ABH typing from hair by absorptiyon elution with LISS under three different conditions (RT, wa

-ter, soil).

Room Temperatur~ Water Soli

Blood

Group No. 24 hrs. I Week 2nd Week 24 hrs. 1 Week 2nd Week 24 hrs. I Week 2nd Week

+ + + + + + + + + A 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 B 14 14 14 14 14 13 13 14 13 1 11 3* 0 13 12 12 12 12 12 12 J2 12 I II 2* AB 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 Total 35 34 1 34 I 34 1 34 I 33 2 33 2 34 32 3 29 6 (97.14) (9714) (97.14) (97.14) (94.28) (94.28) (97.14) (9142) (82.84) (2.86) (2.86) (286)

+ Positive, -Negative, '" Includes incorrect results

Figures in Parenthesis indicate percentage

(2.86) (5.72) (572) (2.86) (8.58) (17.16)

68 RAKESH KUMAR GARG. PRABHJIT KAUR SANDHU

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Reprints request to : Dr. Rakesh Kumar Garg Senior Lecturer,

Department of Forensic Science, Punjabi University,

Patiala - 147 002 India