Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification of DNA From Aged Blood Stains: Quantitative Evaluation of the Suitability for Purpose of Four Filter Papers as Archival Media

Published

April 15, 2002

Author(s)

Margaret C. Kline, David L. Duewer, Janette W. Redman, John M. Butler, D A. Boyer

Abstract

In collaboration with the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology's Department of Defense DNA Registry, the National Institute of Standards and Technology recently evaluated the performance of a short tandem repeat (STR) multiplex with dried whole blood stains on four different commercially available identification card matrices: plain and IsoCode coated S&S 903 specimen collection paper and plain and FTA coated Whatman BFC 180 blood collection paper. Stains from 80 anonymized donors were prepared in parallel on all four media, dried, sealed in individual transfer pouches, and stored at ambient temperature for 19 months. DNA from 70 stains was extracted or directly amplified for the Ampf STR cofiler STR multiplex using routine methods. The amplified products were processed with an ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer using the manufacturer's recommended conditions. All four storage media provided fully typable samples. The detected fluorescence intensities, estimated both as electropherographic peak height and area, of Chelex extracts from stains on the two untreated papers and the FTA coated paper formed were essentially identical. Average intensities for the aqueous extracts from the IsoCode trated paper were somewhat lower but also somewhat less variable then for the Chelex extracts. Average intensities of directly amplified punches of the FTA coated paper were much larger but somewhat more variable than the Chelex extracts. Approximately 25 % of the observed variation among the intensity measurements is shared among the four media and tus can be attributed to intrinsic variation in white blood count among the dnors. All of the evaluated media adequately bank forensically useful DNA in well-dried whole blood stains for the least moderately long periods at ambient temperature.

Citation

Analytical Chemistry

Volume

74

Issue

No. 8

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

blood stains, DNA amplification, DNA typing, forensic science, quantification, short tandem repeat

Citation

Kline, M. , Duewer, D. , Redman, J. , Butler, J. and Boyer, D. (2002), Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification of DNA From Aged Blood Stains: Quantitative Evaluation of the Suitability for Purpose of Four Filter Papers as Archival Media, Analytical Chemistry (Accessed April 25, 2024)