Sexual offences: Barberio's test: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Sexual offences: Barberio's test

Sample item

Barberio's test for seminal stains uses which reagent and demonstrates which crystals?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Saturated picric acid; yellow needle-shaped crystals of spermine picrate

Barberio's test detects spermine in seminal fluid by adding saturated picric acid, which gives yellow, needle-shaped crystals of spermine picrate. Florence's test uses iodine to demonstrate choline, and the haemin and haemochromogen tests detect blood.

Option by option

  • A. Glacial acetic acid and a chloride; brown rhomboid haemin crystals

    Acetic acid with a chloride is the Teichmann test for blood.

  • B. Pyridine and glucose; pink feathery haemochromogen crystals

    Pyridine and glucose are used in the Takayama test for blood.

  • C. Saturated picric acid; yellow needle-shaped crystals of spermine picrate (correct)

    Picric acid reacts with spermine to give yellow needle crystals.

  • D. Iodine solution; brown rhombic crystals of choline periodide

    Iodine with choline is Florence's test, not Barberio's.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Saturated picric acid; yellow needle-shaped crystals of spermine picrate. Barberio's test detects spermine in seminal fluid by adding saturated picric acid, which gives yellow, needle-shaped crystals of spermine picrate.

Why is "Glacial acetic acid and a chloride; brown rhomboid haemin crystals" not the answer?

Acetic acid with a chloride is the Teichmann test for blood.

Why is "Pyridine and glucose; pink feathery haemochromogen crystals" not the answer?

Pyridine and glucose are used in the Takayama test for blood.

Why is "Iodine solution; brown rhombic crystals of choline periodide" not the answer?

Iodine with choline is Florence's test, not Barberio's.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Sexual offences: Barberio's test in Forensic Medicine. Florence's test uses iodine to demonstrate choline, and the haemin and haemochromogen tests detect blood.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Sexual offences: Barberio's test?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.