Kantonsspital St.Gallen
login

DNA extraction of forensic adhesive tapes—A comparison of two different methods

Jana Canonica

abstract In addition to swabbing and cutting, taping became an important method to collect DNA from crime scene items. Many studies with different kind of tapes, substrates and traces have previously been published. However, the influence of the extraction method on the DNA recovery has been less focussed on. The aim of this study was to test the DNA recovery from Scenesafe FAST minitapes extracted with the PrepFiler Express BTA (Applied Biosystems) and Chelex/iPrep (Invitrogen). Using a serial dilution of human blood (1:10–1:10000), extraction utilizing BTA showed higher DNA yields compared to the extraction with Chelex/iPrep. There was no DNA detected for dilutions 1:5000 and 1:10000 with Chelex/iPrep, whereas BTA-extraction obtained enough DNA for full NGM SElect profiles. For mock samples of touch DNA on cotton fabric, higher DNA yields were gained with PrepFiler Express BTA extraction. Better profiling results were also gained with BTA extraction for the blood dilution series as well as the touch DNA mock traces. Although lysis with BTA is still challenging since the BTA with a maximum of 230 ml lysis buffer does not cover an intact tape (experiments were consequently carried out with halves of minitapes), this study reveals that BTA has a higher extraction efficiency for Scenesafe FAST minitapes than Chelex/iPrep.
   
keywords Scenesafe FAST minitapes, DNA recovery, PrepFiler BTA, Chelex, iPrep
   
citation Canonica J. DNA extraction of forensic adhesive tapes—A comparison of two different methods. Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series 2015; Genetics Supplement Series 5 (2015):e579-e581.
   
type journal paper/review (English)
date of publishing 30-9-2015
journal title Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series (Genetics Supplement Series 5 (2015))
publisher Elsevier
pages e579-e581
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigss.2015.09.229
contact Jana Canonica