Previous studies have shown that nylon flocked swabs outperform traditional fiber swabs in DNA recovery due to their innovative design and lack of internal absorbent core to entrap cellular materials. The microFLOQ Direct swab, a miniaturized version of the 4N6 FLOQSwab, has a small swab head that is treated with a lysing agent which allows for direct amplification and DNA profiling from sample collection to final result in less than 2 hours. Additionally, the microFLOQ system subsamples only a minute portion of a stain and preserves the majority of the sample for subsequent testing or re-analysis, if desired. The current study made comparisons to traditional methods in assessing the robustness of this alternate workflow. Controlled studies with 1:19 and 1:99 dilutions of bloodstains and saliva stains consistently yielded higher STR peak heights than standard methods with 1 ng input DNA from the same samples. Touch samples from common items yielded single source and mixed profiles that were consistent with primary users of the objects. With this novel methodology/workflow, no sample loss occurs; therefore, more template DNA is available during amplification. This approach may have important implications for analysis of low quantity and/or degraded samples that plague forensic casework. (publisher abstract modified)
Direct PCR Amplification of DNA From Human Bloodstains, Saliva, and Touch Samples Collected With MicroFLOQ (R) Swabs
NCJ Number
253122
Journal
Forensic Science International: Genetics Volume: 32 Dated: January 2018 Pages: 80-87
Date Published
January 2018
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated the efficacy of direct amplification of DNA from dilute bloodstains, saliva stains, and touch samples, using microFLOQ Direct swabs and the GlobalFiler Express system.
Abstract
Date Published: January 1, 2018