Glycophorins were determined in two experimental skin tissue models: samples taken on autopsy into which healthy human blood was injected and samples undergoing a postmortem infiltration of hemoglobin by immunological methods utilizing an anti-glycophorin serum. In all of the bleeding lesions up to 9 days old and in 40 percent of the lesions 12 days old, glycophorins were clearly detected qualitatively by counterimmunoelectrophoresis and by double immunodiffusion. All of the remaining 12-, 15-, and 16-day old bleeding lesion samples faintly demonstrated glycophorins by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. Quantitative analysis by rocket immunoelectrophoresis yielded a glycophorin value of 116.5 microgram per 0.5 grams of skin tissue. Thereafter the glycophorins in the bleeding lesion samples began to decline slowly from day 3 to 9 and then began to decrease rapidly after 12 days. The 15- and 18-day old bleeding samples showed glycophorin values 16 and 15 percent of the 0 day values, respectively. In contrast no glycophorins were detected in any of the hemoglobin infiltrated skin sample or control samples at any time interval. These results suggest that a differential diagnosis between antemortem cutaneous bleeding and postmortem hemoglobin infiltration in the tissue is achievable within 9 to 12 postmortem days. 4 figures and 8 references (Author abstract modified)