Diatom Test for Detecting Death via Drowning

Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) relied on a diatom test for leads in the alleged murder case of Mansukh Hiran.

About Diatom Test

It helps in diagnosing the death caused by drowning. It tests diatoms in the body being tested.
Diatoms are photosynthesizing algae found in aquatic environment including fresh and marine waters, soils, etc., (almost anywhere moist).
If the person is alive when he enters the water, the diatoms will enter the lungs when the person inhales water while drowning.
These diatoms are then carried to different body parts by blood circulation.
If a person is dead when is thrown in the water, then there is no circulation and there is no transport of diatom cells to various organs.
Diatoms extracted from the body would be correlated with the samples from the water body where the drowning took place to ascertain the place of drowning.

Cons of this Test-

The test will be negative if the person died instantly after falling into the water.
The diatom test is reliable unless the deceased person has been drinking water from the same source of water before his death.

Source: TH

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