In developing SpermPaint, a substance that causes sperm to glow when examined under a florescent microscope, University researchers have found a new method to analyze rape kits.
Researchers previously identified two proteins, ESP in the heads of sperm and CABYR in the tails, which are only found in sperm cells, said Daniel Rausa, a third-year College student and undergraduate researcher. Rausa worked with Cell Biology Prof. John Herr, director of the Center for Research in Contraceptive and Reproductive Health, then used SpermPaint to find these proteins and attach to them, causing the parts of the sperm cells to glow under a fluorescent microscope, he said.
“Where it could take someone five hours to find one sperm cell [under the current methodology,” Rausa said, “it could take me close to a minute to find a sperm cell, because it’s just going to glow right in front of me.”
SpermPaint, which consists of monoclonal antibodies and a fluorescent dye, could revolutionize forensic analysis of rape kits, enabling scientists to quickly identify sperm cells and analyze samples collected years ago, Rausa said. The substance will also allow scientists to more effectively analyze samples taken up to three days after an assault, which is difficult using current techniques.
In many states, a sample for a rape kit must be collected within 72 hours because the heads and tails of sperm cells start to separate, Rausa said. Forensic scientists currently use a “Christmas tree” stain — a type of tri-color stain — to analyze the swabs in rape kits and can only identify intact sperm cells, Herr said.
The samples taken from sexual assault swabs often include bacteria and yeast, among other obstructions, Herr said. It therefore becomes very difficult and time-consuming to identify sperm cells in a forensic setting, Rausa said.
SpermPaint, however, can help identify broken sperm cells. Because SpermPaint also works much faster than the current methodology, it may help to reduce the backlog of evidence found in almost every court, Rausa said.
“Confirmation of a sperm continues to be one of the central pieces of testimony of sexual assault cases,” Herr said.
Women who may not have been able to find success in court yet may do so with SpermPaint, Rausa added.
“Justice can be achieved, because you don’t need an intact sperm cell,” Rausa said. “You can just have a head or a tail.”
This also may encourage rape victims to come forward with their cases, Rausa said. Women whose rape kits were collected 72 hours after their assault could be more likely to take their cases to court.
Rausa is currently working on clinical trials, using the protocol for SpermPaint to analyze mock rape kits to test the reagent’s effectiveness and stability. A standard operating procedure must also be developed, he added.
About 360 forensic laboratories across the country will begin to use SpermPaint after a paper is published about the findings, Herr said. Rausa said he expects to finish collecting and analyzing data this fall.
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