Toluidine blue in the corroboration of rape in the adult victim.

Objective physical evidence to corroborate a claim of rape is frequently absent. Genital lacerations are considered evidence that rape has occurred. In this study, toluidine blue dye, a nuclear stain, was used to detect vaginal lacerations. The detection of vaginal lacerations in reported rape victims increased from one in 24 to 14 in 24 with toluidine application. Toluidine blue increases the detection of perineal lacerations in adult rape victims and the presence of lacerations is supportive of the documentation of rape.