Detection of Saliva by Immunoaffinity and Mass Spectrometry

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, MONTPELLIER · Dec 13, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is focused on developing a new and improved method for detecting saliva in cases of sexual assault, which can help with legal investigations in France. Since 2021, non-consensual oral-genital contact has been considered a crime, making it essential to accurately identify saliva during these investigations. The researchers are testing a technique called automated immunoaffinity mass spectrometry (IP-LC-MS/MS) to find specific proteins in saliva more quickly and accurately than traditional methods. By doing this, they hope to enhance the ability to gather evidence in sexual assault cases.

To participate in this trial, you need to be at least 18 years old and provide saliva samples. For women, there are additional criteria regarding recent sexual activity. It's important to note that certain conditions, such as infections of the saliva glands or recent unprotected oral-genital contact, would exclude someone from participating. Participants will need to give informed consent and be affiliated with the French Social Security System. This study aims to create a reliable protocol for detecting saliva proteins, which could significantly aid in legal investigations related to sexual assault.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Saliva Samples
• • Men and women aged 18 or more
• Vaginal samples :
• • Women aged 18 or more
• • No unprotected vaginal sexual intercourse during the 10 days prior to the visit (group 1)
• • Unprotected vaginal sexual intercourse with ejaculation in the 24 hours prior to the visit (group 2)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Saliva Samples :
• • Active pathology of the saliva glands (infection, tumor)
• • Unprotected oral-genital sexual intercourse in the 24 hours prior to the visit
• • Failure to obtain written informed consent after a reflection period
• • Pregnant or breast feeding women
• • Adult protected by law or under guardianship or curatorship
• • No affiliation to the French Social Security System or no benefit from such a system
• Vaginal Samples :
• • Oral-genital sexual intercourse (cunnilingus) in the 24 hours prior to the visit
• • Failure to obtain written informed consent after a reflection period
• • Pregnant or Breastfeeding women
• • Adult protected by law or under guardianship or curatorship
• • No affiliation to the French Social Security System or no benefit from such a system