Detection of A, B, H, M, N, and Rh D antigens in human bones

ABSTRACT

The identity of the dead is an essential part of postmortem examination for official, moral, ethical, humanitarian and legal purposes. If all soft tissues are absent or partial skeleton is found, as in mass disasters, identity depends only on osteological examination. The bones must be examined for any idiosyncratic features that give them personal identity. Both simple and modified elution methods were done for detection of A, B, O, RhD and M, N antigens in compact and cancellous bones after the lapse of different periods of time. Detection of these antigens in the cancellous bones using the modified elution method proved to be more reliable than the simple elution method. The time period in which the antigens were best detected was between two and 10 years. The results obtained help the forensic scientist in the identification of bony remains