Diatom test – An evaluation tool in submersion deaths

The diagnosis of drowning is one of the most difficult job in forensic pathology. Literatures reveal various qualitative and quantitative methods for detection of diatoms in case of death due to submersion. In this study twenty-four cases of drowning and twenty-six cases of non-drowning death were studied for detection of diatoms from acid digested bone marrow without contamination. This study reveals diatom in nondrowning deaths and absence of diatom in drowning deaths. It is commonly overlooked pitfall in the value of diagnosis of deaths due to drowning.