Ella Pickell, Charlotte Arsenault, Kara L Jaremko, Georgiana Gibson-Daw, Deborah S B S Silva
{"title":"Evaluation of successive DNA extractions from cotton and flocked swabs.","authors":"Ella Pickell, Charlotte Arsenault, Kara L Jaremko, Georgiana Gibson-Daw, Deborah S B S Silva","doi":"10.1007/s12024-025-00960-6","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The use of swabs to collect biological samples is a current practice in forensic investigations. Once a sample is collected, the DNA is extracted and used for testing at the crime lab. DNA extraction can often be sub-optimal in yield, and identifying new approaches to obtain larger DNA quantities from casework samples is critical. The goal of this study was to investigate the success rate of obtaining sufficient DNA yields from previously extracted swabs. Reference and case-type samples were collected using different types of swabs and genomic DNA was extracted from samples multiple times using only the QIAamp<sup>®</sup> DNA Investigator Kit or using this kit in combination with the Investigator Lyse&Spin Basket Kit. DNA samples were amplified using the GlobalFiler™ PCR Amplification Kit and separated on a SeqStudio Genetic Analyzer. All types of swabs and extraction methods yielded DNA after three extractions, and complete DNA profiles were produced for reference and case-type samples up to the third extraction. This provides a proof-of-concept that it is possible to recover DNA from previously extracted swabs in sufficient yield for full STR profiles. Also, trace DNA casework swabs can be extracted twice in succession and extracts pooled to increase yields for necessary DNA tests.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-025-00960-6","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MEDICINE, LEGAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The use of swabs to collect biological samples is a current practice in forensic investigations. Once a sample is collected, the DNA is extracted and used for testing at the crime lab. DNA extraction can often be sub-optimal in yield, and identifying new approaches to obtain larger DNA quantities from casework samples is critical. The goal of this study was to investigate the success rate of obtaining sufficient DNA yields from previously extracted swabs. Reference and case-type samples were collected using different types of swabs and genomic DNA was extracted from samples multiple times using only the QIAamp® DNA Investigator Kit or using this kit in combination with the Investigator Lyse&Spin Basket Kit. DNA samples were amplified using the GlobalFiler™ PCR Amplification Kit and separated on a SeqStudio Genetic Analyzer. All types of swabs and extraction methods yielded DNA after three extractions, and complete DNA profiles were produced for reference and case-type samples up to the third extraction. This provides a proof-of-concept that it is possible to recover DNA from previously extracted swabs in sufficient yield for full STR profiles. Also, trace DNA casework swabs can be extracted twice in succession and extracts pooled to increase yields for necessary DNA tests.
期刊介绍:
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology encompasses all aspects of modern day forensics, equally applying to children or adults, either living or the deceased. This includes forensic science, medicine, nursing, and pathology, as well as toxicology, human identification, mass disasters/mass war graves, profiling, imaging, policing, wound assessment, sexual assault, anthropology, archeology, forensic search, entomology, botany, biology, veterinary pathology, and DNA. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology presents a balance of forensic research and reviews from around the world to reflect modern advances through peer-reviewed papers, short communications, meeting proceedings and case reports.