Abstract

Objectives: To detect the salivary stains, in particular, any improvement in the ability to target an area of DNA analysis. To evaluate the efficacy in detection of salivary stains between UV light, fluorescent and Raman spectroscopy. Study Design: Prospective randomised study. Place & Duration of Study: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Sri Rajiv Gandhi College of Dental Sciences & Hospital; Forensic science laboratory, Bangalore Test Centre & Indian institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka; between August 2013 to December 2014. Patients & Methods: Dried salivary stain samples from 20 volunteers were collected and exposed to ultraviolet-light spectrophotometer, Fluorescent spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Water was used as a control sample and Tryptophan, to assess the presence of saliva from the collected samples. Results: A total number of 20 volunteers dried salivary stain samples were taken. The absorption spectra of the saliva samples revealed the excited wavelength of 240 to 248 nm coinciding with the excited wavelength of tryptophan in case of ultraviolet spectroscopy; the excited wavelength was 280 to 288 nm coinciding with the excited wavelength of tryptophan with less concentration of saliva in case of fluorescent spectroscopy; and in case of Raman spectroscopy, saliva was not detected instead the diluted content of KCL solution was only noted. Conclusions: Ultraviolet light spectrophotometer and fluorescent spectroscopy are a rapid and non-invasive technique for the detection of dried salivary stain, in which the sensitivity and accuracy is best with the fluorescent spectroscopy.

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