Citation

Wigmore JG, Ward MJ. J. Can. Soc. Forensic Sci. 1986; 19(1): 49-58.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Canadian Society of Forensic Science, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00085030.1986.10757401

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The blood and urine from 255 sexual assault cases, divided into visible and no visible physical trauma groups, were examined for the presence of ethanol and acetone. The incidence of acetone was compared with the incidence in blood samples from 200 ethanol negative Red Cross blood donors and 158 ethanol negative samples from natural, nontraumatic deaths. The incidence of acetone in the blood and urine of sexual assault victims was approximately ten times that of the comparison groups. The visible trauma group was approximately three times more likely to exhibit detectable acetone levels than the no visible trauma group. The presence of ethanol in the blood reduced the frequency of acetone detection in the sexual assault victims.