The Analysis of Lubricants for Elucidating the Dynamics of Sexual Violence: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

AbstractElucidating the circumstances in cases of sexual violence is fundamental for the administration of justice. Knowing whether, during violence, a condom was used can be useful to verify what involved people stated. The analysis of condoms’ components can have the purpose not only to verify their use, but also to distinguish among different brands. Usually, the analysis of these components is conducted via mass spectrometry, with expensive and uncommon instruments. In this work, the aim is to explore the possibility of detecting condom traces in swabs taken from sexual assault victims with a cheap and simple technique: gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Final outcomes show that only Durex condoms, among those examined, have a characteristic profile that allows to recognize their use. Other brands seem to be use lubricants composed by nonvolatile substances that cannot be analyzed via GC.