The main purpose of this Manual is to provide useful guidelines for the selection of pathology tests and to facilitate interpretation of results.
Contains a comprehensive listing of all genes from the Human Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) database alongside laboratories and tests available in the country.
A manual for the process of macroscopic dissection in Anatomical Pathology laboratories.
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Criminal investigation: specimens (blood, semen, hair, skin from under the fingernails) obtained from the victim are matched against specimens (usually 5mL blood in EDTA) from the suspect(s).
Identity and paternity testing: 5mL blood in EDTA or 1-2 drops from a capillary sample for a child.
Specimens are collected from the index case and from purported relatives.
Other specimens eg, saliva, plucked hair roots may be accepted by legislation in the future.
Consult pathologist prior to organising specimen collection.
See also Paternity testing.
See Molecular genetics. PCR, Sequencing.
Identification of individuals suspected of having committed serious crime e.g., rape, murder.
Establishing the identity of an otherwise unidentifiable corpse, if likely close relatives are available for testing.
Determination of paternity by confirming or refuting a biological parental relationship.
The results, in a forensic context, are usually expressed as a frequency of the analysed profile (specimens from the victim) in the general population and its degree of similarity or difference from the specimen collected from the suspect.
When establishing a biological relationship the results are usually expressed as a probability of paternity or exclusion of paternity.
Prinz D, Lessig R. Forensic DNA Analysis. In: Madea B, editor. Handbook of Forensic Medicine. 2nd ed. John Wiley and Sons, 2022; pp 1143-83.
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The RCPA is the leading organisation representing Pathologists and Senior Scientists in Australasia.
Its mission is to train and support pathologists and senior scientists and to improve the use of pathology testing to achieve better healthcare.
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