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The Use of Hemastix ® Severely Reduces DNA Recovery Using the BioRobot ® EZ1
Author(s) -
Petersen Daniel,
Kaplan Marla
Publication year - 2011
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/j.1556-4029.2011.01737.x
Subject(s) - dna , computational biology , forensic engineering , medical emergency , medicine , engineering , biology , genetics
Abstract: The choice of reagents for presumptive tests for blood, and subsequent extraction methodologies, can significantly affect both the quantity and quality of purified DNA. Blood samples directly tested with Hemastix ® yielded <1% of the DNA recovered from untested samples when purified using the Qiagen BioRobot ® EZ1 and EZ1 ® DNA Investigator kit. Full short tandem repeat profiles were obtained from both tested and untested samples, suggesting that the Hemastix ® reagent(s) affect DNA binding, rather than produce DNA damage. The Hemastix ® inhibition of DNA yield could be overcome by the addition of MTL buffer to the sample prior to extraction. Laboratories may wish to modify current procedures for extracting blood samples, utilize other extraction/purification methodologies, or inform their submitting agencies to avoid direct exposure of questioned bloodstains to Hemastix ® reagents.