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Trace DNA Sampling Success from Evidence Items Commonly Encountered in Forensic Casework
Author(s) -
Dziak Renata,
Peneder Amy,
Buetter Alicia,
Hageman Cecilia
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.13622
Subject(s) - forensic science , workload , sampling (signal processing) , trace (psycholinguistics) , forensic examination , dna profiling , turnaround time , computer science , forensic engineering , medicine , engineering , biology , dna , genetics , veterinary medicine , telecommunications , linguistics , philosophy , detector , operating system
Trace DNA analysis is a significant part of a forensic laboratory's workload. Knowing optimal sampling strategies and item success rates for particular item types can assist in evidence selection and examination processes and shorten turnaround times. In this study, forensic short tandem repeat ( STR ) casework results were reviewed to determine how often STR profiles suitable for comparison were obtained from “handler” and “wearer” areas of 764 items commonly submitted for examination. One hundred and fifty‐five (155) items obtained from volunteers were also sampled. Items were analyzed for best sampling location and strategy. For casework items, headwear and gloves provided the highest success rates. Experimentally, eyeglasses and earphones, T‐shirts, fabric gloves and watches provided the highest success rates. Eyeglasses and latex gloves provided optimal results if the entire surfaces were swabbed. In general, at least 10%, and up to 88% of all trace DNA analyses resulted in suitable STR profiles for comparison.