P228 – Quick Forensic DNA Analysis for Urgent Cases

10:49

Thursday August 20^th

Station 14

Duration: 12 minutes

04. Forensic biology

Christina Forsberg

Rapid access to DNA results can be of critical importance in urgent criminal investigations. We have developed, validated, accredited and implemented a quick forensic DNA analysis workflow to address this need. Using this approach, STR profiles can be generated within 2.5 h from crime scene trace samples such as blood or saliva on swabs, cigarette butts and chewing gum. The process uses regular forensic DNA laboratory instrumentation. The first step is a one-tube cell lysis protocol using Chelex and Tween-20, with a single heat incubation step. No quantification is performed prior to STR profiling. Instead, the varying DNA concentrations in the samples are handled by amplifying two different volumes of each DNA extract. Results from the quick workflow are reported immediately after typing. The remaining lysate is subsequently subjected to routine DNA extraction procedures to achieve optimal DNA recovery. Various direct PCR approaches were also evaluated, such as using DNA binding paper or adding swab material directly to the PCR. These resulted in more variable results and overall lower DNA profile quality compared to the selected one-tube lysis. The implemented rapid workflow has reduced the processing time for urgent cases with 50%.

Authors

Christina Forsberg (National Forensic Centre, Swedish Police Authority and Division of Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology, Department of Process and Life Science Engineering, Lund University, Sweden)
Sofie Bergstrand (National Forensic Centre, Swedish Police Authority and Division of Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology, Department of Process and Life Science Engineering, Lund University, Sweden)
Alexandra Andersson (National Forensic Centre, Swedish Police Authority, Sweden)
Julia Bengtsson (National Forensic Centre, Swedish Police Authority and Division of Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology, Department of Process and Life Science Engineering, Lund University, Sweden)
Elin Lundkvist (National Forensic Centre, Swedish Police Authority, Sweden)
Malin Rehnberg (National Forensic Centre, Swedish Police Authority, Sweden)
Ricky Ansell (National Forensic Centre, Swedish Police Authority and Department of Physics, Chemistry & Biology, Linköping University, Sweden)
Siri Aili Fagerholm (National Forensic Centre, Swedish Police Authority, Sweden)
Johannes Hedman (National Forensic Centre, Swedish Police Authority and Division of Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology, Department of Process and Life Science Engineering, Lund University, Sweden)

Contact:

Follow us

P228 – Quick Forensic DNA Analysis for Urgent Cases

Authors

On the same topic

P081 – From Powder to Problems: The Impact of Illicit Drugs on DNA Extraction Efficiency

P086 – Identifying Best Practice for DNA Evidence Recovery from 3D Printed Materials

P066 – Absolute Quantification of Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Using Multiplex Droplet Digital PCR for Forensic Applications

P076 – Stability and Influences on DNA Methylation Markers Used for Body Fluid Identification

P071 – Optimizing RNA Extraction and qPCR Analysis of Saliva Samples for Forensic Applications

P067 – A Sticky Situation: Investigating the Downstream Implications of DNA Adhesive Tape Lifts on Fingermarks Developed with 1,2-indanedione-zinc

P072 – Comparative Evaluation of Solution-Based and Destructive DNA Extraction Techniques in Human Teeth

P077 – Optimizing the Examination Approach for the Detection of Relevant Male DNA Profiles from Underwear Where Digital Penetration is Alleged: A Casework Study

P082 – Further Development and Application of an mRNA/miRNA-based Approach for the Identification of Forensically Relevant Body Fluids in Casework-relevant Trace Scenarios, Including STR Analysis

P087 – An Array Based Epigenetic Clock for Accurate Age Prediction of East Asian Populations

P083 – Forensic Detection of Pregnancy in Dried Blood Spots Using a PCR-CE Based mRNA Analysis

P088 – Systematic Evaluation of tsRNAs Versus miRNAs for Forensic Identification of Five Body Fluids

P078 – A Biologically Validated Multi-Omics Framework Integrating Microbiome and VOCs for PMI Estimation in Summer Conditions

P073 – CellTyper 3: Advancing RT-qPCR Body Fluid Identification

P068 – SNP Data Recovery from Hair Shafts and Fired Cartridge Cases using the QIAseq FORCE Kit Compared with STR Profiling

P069 – Time-Dependent Stability of miR-203a, miR-205, and SNORD48 in Saliva Samples Under Different Environmental Conditions

P074 – Non-destructive Identification of Forensically Relevant Body Fluid Stains Using a Portable Electronic Nose: A Pilot Study

P079 – Enhancing the Analysis of Highly Degraded DNA: A Novel Strategy Combining ddPCR for Quality Assessment and a Short-Amplicon Multi-InDel Panel for Genotyping

P084 – (Epi)genome-wide Profiling of Sperm Cells Using Nanopore Sequencing

P089 – Recovery of DNA in Cases Involving Improvised Explosive Devices

P070 – Sexual Assault and Alcohol Consumption: An Italian Multicentric Study

P090 – From Soil to Profile: Understanding Blood Trace Persistence and Analysis

P085 – Pre-ejaculatory Fluid: A Largely Unknown Body Fluid Characterized by High DNA Content and a Specific Proteome

P080 – A Multicentre Collaborative Study Into Factors Impacting Degradation and Loss of Purified DNA Under Different Storage Conditions

P075 – Forensic DNA Phenotyping: Ethical and Legal Perspectives

P140 – Oklahoma's Statewide Rapid DNA Investigative Lead Program: Validation, Implementation, and Execution

P143 – Comparison of mRNA/miRNA-based Body Fluid Identification with Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) and Massive Parallel Sequencing (MPS)

P146 – Multiplex Lateral Flow Assay for the Simultaneous Detection of Four Kinds of Body Fluids

P149 – Digital PCR: A Novel Approach to Body Fluid Identification

P152 – Tissue Origin and Individual Identification of Degraded Forensic Body Fluids Based on Transcriptomic Expression Profiles and Transcript SNPs

P141 – Implementation and Evaluation of Single-cell Encapsulation for Forensic Applications Using the Atrandi FLUX® Instrument

P144 – When Air Moves, DNA Travels: Investigating Airborne Human DNA in Undisturbed and Disturbed Intruded Spaces

P147 – Oscillating CpG Sites in Human Blood as Molecular Clocks for Estimating the Time-of-day of Blood Deposition

P150 – AELiSp: A Model for PCR Amplification Curves Based on Two Linear Regimes in log(diff(y))

P153 – A Multi-CpG-microhaplotype Composite Marker System for Simultaneous Body Fluid Identification and Contributor Association in Body Fluid Mixtures

P154 – The Heart-Liver Microbiome Combination Enhances Early PMI Estimation in High-Temperature Environments

P151 – A Kit for Kids: Age-Specific RNA Markers to Identify Minors in Forensic Trace Analysis

P145 – MtDNA Analysis from Hair Samples: Removal of Exogenous DNA and Interpretation of Results

P142 – Validation of the Siemens Hemastix® Reagent Strip for Presumptive Blood Detection in a Forensic Serology Laboratory Setting

P148 – One Panel to Rule Them All: A Comparison of Human SNP Genotyping Platforms for Forensic DNA Analysis.

P191 – Toward Analysis at the Point of Need: A Digital Microfluidic Approach to Processing Multi-Source Sexual Assault Samples

P226 – Exploring the Application of mtRNA in Estimating the Time Since Deposition of Trace Evidence

P231 – Enhancing Touch DNA Recovery: A Standardised Swab and Wetting Agent Combination Investigation

P236 – Seeing the Unseen: Visualising DNA-Containing Material on Vehicle Surfaces

P241 – Biological Factors Associated with STR Allele Detection in touch DNA samples

P246 – A novel RT-RPA/CRISPR-Cas12a Isothermal Assay for Simultaneous Human DNA Confirmation and Forensic Body Fluid Identification

P227 – No Root, no Problem: Comparison of Four DNA Extraction Protocols for mtDNA Recovery fromHhair Shafts in Forensic Casework

P247 – Transcriptome-based Predictive Framework for Accurate Estimation of Postmortem Interval in Forensic Practice

P242 – From Touch to Trace: Optimizing DNA Yield from Latent Fingerprints

P237 – Evaluation of an RNA Extraction Method for Detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia in Postmortem Whole Blood

P232 – 16S rRNA Sequencing of Hand and Oral Bacteria: Profiling Methods and Forensic Feasibility

P248 – Recovery of Foreign DNA from Fingernails – A Comparison of Nail Clippings vs Swab-based Collection Methods

P243 – Advanced Rapid Identification of Vaginal Fluid with Nucleic Acid based LFA Technology

P238 – Novel Approach for Deconvolution of Mixed Trace Evidence Using CRISPR Metagenomic Sequencing

P233 – Comparative Evaluation of Mitochondrial DNA Extraction Methods from Human Tissues for Forensic Applications

P244 – Bloody Evidence: Comparing mRNA Profiling and Conventional Blood Detection Methods in Forensic Samples

P239 – A Highly Integrated Next-generation Forensic DNA and DNA Methylation Sequencing Experimental Workflow

P234 – Elimination of Carryover Contamination by Nucleic Acid Damage Repair Mechanism for DNA Methylation-based Forensic Analysis

P229 – The Development and Use of STR DNA Identification Evidence, the Beginning of the End of Bite Mark Evidence in the United States

P249 – Optimisation of Pyrosequencing Signal Performance on the PyroMark Q48 for Forensic DNA Methylation Analysis

P230 – Tissue Determination, Donor Identification, and Mixture Deconvolution from Shotgun RNA Sequencing

P235 – Evaluation of the DNA-Buster for the Touch DNA Collection from Textiles in Forensic Practice

P240 – Single-Tooth Age Estimation by Integrating DNA Methylation with Hyperspectral Imaging Analysis

P245 – Cross‑platform Validation of a mRNA Assay for Differentiating Menstrual Blood from Peripheral Blood

P250 – A Dual-Marker Approach for Forensic Age Prediction: Integrating the Salivary Microbiome and Antibiotic Resistome

P303 – Optimising Methods for the Identification and Isolation of Epithelial Cell Types Using Imaging Flow Cytometry

P309 – Strength in Numbers: Assessing the Role of Digital PCR in the Forensic DNA Typing Workflow

P306 – Mixture Accepted: Linking DNA Methylation and iSNP/STRs for Biological Material and Contributor Assignment

P301 – MitoIdent: A Bioinformatics Pipeline Based on Nanopore Sequencing for Species Identification Using Complete Mitogenomes

P307 – A Longitudinal Evaluation of Storage Conditions and Post-Extraction Stability for Optimizing DNA Recovery from Fired Cartridge Casings

P310 – A DNA Methylation-based Multiplex System Based on Skin-specific CpG Markers for Forensic Identification

P304 – Unlocking Forensic Mixtures: Plate-Based dPCR for Enhanced Body Fluid Identification

P305 – A Systematic Evaluation of Different Molecular Biomarker-based Approaches for Forensic Body Fluid Identification in Challenging Samples

P308 – Quantitative and Comparative Analysis of DNA Degradation in Biological Fluids Under Environmental Conditions Using qPCR, STR, and InDel Genotyping

P311 – Transcriptome-wide Comparative Analysis of Body Fluid Specificity Between CircRNAs and Linear RNAs