Phenotyping of ABO and Rh blood groups was performed by the absorption-elution technique using cerebral dura maters. For the ABO system, the cerebral dura maters extracted from nine autopsied cadavers including two burnt bodies, two putrefied corpses, and one half-mummified and one skeletal structure were tested with commercially available Wako antisera (animal polyclonal antibodies). At the same time, blood, fingernails or bones were sampled. In all the cases, the phenotypes could be typed correctly and more clearly with the use of 2 x 2 x 0.3 mm dura maters (0.6 mm thick dura maters were sliced to 0.3 mm thickness) than the phenotyping using 2 x 2 mm fingernails or 2 x 2 x 1 mm bones. For the Rh system, the cerebral dura maters extracted from eight autopsied cadavers within 2 days after death including two burnt bodies were tested with commercially available Ortho Bioclone anti-C, anti-c, anti-E and anti-e sera (human monoclonal antibodies), and Ortho anti-D serum (human polyclonal antibody). The eluate of anti-D antibody was needed to perform the indirect anti-globulin test (Ortho Coombs serum). At the same time, blood was sampled. In all the cases, the Rh blood groups of cerebral dura maters were in agreement with those of blood.