Abstract:
In sexual assault cases, lubricant trace evidence may supplement biological evidence, or may be the primary physical
evidence where biological evidence is unavailable. This study considered a total of 50 lubricants from condoms and personal
lubricant products available in Australia. Differentiation of the samples was attempted using fluorescence examination,
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFfS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-tandem
mass spectrometry, and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Eleven of the samples were uniquely identified by
the analysis scheme, while the remainder of the samples were separated into nine groups. As a result of this study, a
recommended protocol for the detection and analysis of an "unknown" biological swab was produced.
