The Forensic Nurse

The Northside Hospital - Forsyth, Sexual Assualt Nurse Examiner program is proud to announce that they have become the only SANE  program in the state of Georgia to use employ the use of SDFI technology.  

Secure Digital Forensic Imaging technology offers digital imaging clarity that is on the cutting edge. This technology is also fully compliant with federal rules of evidence, ensuring that the images stored will be admissible in court if necessary.

Direct Visual Inspection
In this method, injuries are identified through simple observation by a health care professional during a standard gynecological or forensic examination. It was the primary method used in examining female victims after sexual assault from about 1970 to 1990.

Staining techniques
Several staining solutions have been used: Gentian violet, Lugol’s solution, toluidine blue and flurorscein. A health care professional applies a staining solution in and around the female genitals. The solution makes injured tissues stand out from uninjured, surrounding areas. For example, with Lugol’s, tears in the epithelium appear as unstained, lighter areas than surrounding, uninjured genital tissues; with toluidine blue, tears or injured genital tissues pick up the stain and appear darker than uninjured tissues.

Colposcope
A Colposcope is a device used  to illuminate and magnify the part of the body being inspected by a health care professional. In some models a green lens filters make scars or abnormal patterns of blood vessels stand out from normal genital tissue. Colposcopy enables examiners to detect microscopic injury, and it reduces the need for repeated examinations of rape victims. The colposcope can be attached to a 35mm, digital camera or video camera for documentation when evaluation by other medical experts is needed, or as evidence for prosecuting cases.