Traces of sperm cells recovered on clothing impose challenges as to the interpretation of such findings in sexual assault cases. The manner of deposition may not be readily determined, clothing may have been washed, or the findings may not be related to the incidence under investigation. Spermatozoa survived on cotton underwear machinewashed at 40 8C and 60 8C. Interpretational caution must be applied when examining evidence in connection with sexual assault, even when testing positive for acid phosphatase (AP) activity, which may come from normal vaginal secretions, but may be coinciding with spermatozoa retained after laundering.
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