Identification of Semen in 500 Patients Seen Because of Rape

Of 500 patients seen because of rape, semen was identified in vaginal secretions by the identification of spermatozoa in 61%, by an acid phosphatase value of 50 units or more in 40%, and by the identification of a foreign blood group substance or a high titer of own blood group substance in 16%. The addition of the determination of the acid phosphatase to the search for spermatozoa identified semen in only 1.4% more patients, or a total of 62.4%. Identification and titers of blood group substance were confirmatory only, but further characterized the source of the semen in 25% of those patients with spermatozoa. Spermatozoa were identified for as long as 48 hours, and elevated acid phosphatase was not found after 18 hours. Acid phosphatase was elevated in only 62% of patients with spermatozoa.