Investigations

Pre-transfusion samples

Unless indicated for blood-borne virus screening, there is no requirement for pre-transfusion blood samples to be taken from victims of sexual assault and rape.

Should the police request this, it should be undertaken by a suitably trained medical professional who can assure the chain of evidence; this is usually the forensic medical examiner.

Other investigations

Other investigations should be requested and acted upon in line with clinical need; for example, a group and save or crossmatch might be requested for a patient who is catastrophically bleeding, or a CT facial bones might be performed in a patient with evidence of facial trauma.

Learning bite

Routine swabs to screen for sexually transmitted infections should be avoided, as they may disrupt forensic evidence and are unlikely to return a positive result so close to exposure.