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A Simple Digestion Method with a Lefort Aqua Regia Solution for Diatom Extraction |
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| Authors: | Huipin Wang MD Yan Liu MD Jian Zhao BD Sunlin Hu PhD Yuzhong Wang MD Chao Liu PhD Yanji Zhang BD |
| Affiliation: | 1. Faculty of Forensic Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Zhongshan Forensic Science Institute, Zhongshan, China;2. South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China;3. Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Cangbian Road 30, Guangzhou, China;4. Faculty of Forensic Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China;5. Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Cangbian Road 30, Guangzhou, China Additional information and reprint requests: Chao Liu, Ph.D. Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute Cangbian Road 30, Yuexiu District Guangzhou China E-mails: 768594951@qq.com;6. liuchaogaj@21cn.com;7. Harbin Forensic Science Institute, Harbin, China |
| Abstract: | Presence of diatoms in tissues has been considered as a significant sign of drowning. However, there are limitations in the present extraction methods. We developed a new digestion method using the Lefort aqua regia solution (3:1 nitric acid to hydrochloric acid) for diatom extraction and evaluated the digestive capability, diatom destruction, and diatoms' recovery of this new method. The kidney tissues from rabbit mixed with water rich in diatoms were treated by the Lefort aqua regia digestion method (n = 10) and the conventional acid digestion method (n = 10). The results showed that the digestive capability of Lefort aqua regia digestion method was superior to conventional acid digestion method (p < 0.01); the structure of diatom remained almost intact; and the recovery of diatom was comparable to the conventional acid digestion method (p > 0.05). The Lefort aqua regia reagent is an improvement over the conventional acid digestion for recovery of diatoms from tissue samples. |
| Keywords: | forensic science forensic pathology drowning diatom test digestion method diatom extraction Lefort aqua regia |
