Application of the microwave digestion-vacuum filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy method for diatom detection in the diagnosis of drowning.

Abstract The cause of death for the decomposed corpses recovered from water is still a difficult issue in current forensic practice. In this article, we present two cases of bodies recovered from water with no positive findings to indicate the cause of their death. We apply both conventional acid digestion method as well as the microwave digestion-vacuum filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy method (MD-VF-Auto SEM) for diatom detection in different organs of both bodies. Our results indicate that MD-VF-Auto SEM method provide more accurate information and match further police investigation. This novel method would be a useful technique in assessing cause of death for body found in water.