ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 November 2002
Page Count: 14

Reduced Volume PCR Amplification Reactions Using the AmpFlSTR^® Profiler Plus^™ Kit
Brown, CL
North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory, LA

Valentine, JA
North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory, LA

Gaines, ML
North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory, LA

Wojtkiewicz, PW
North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory, LA

(Received 14 June 2002; accepted 22 May 2002)

Abstract

The forensic community continues to seek improvements in DNA typing methods on aspects such as sensitivity and efficacy. Reducing the volume of the AmpF_STR^® Profiler Plus^™ reagents offered greater sensitivity and improved the chance of obtaining useful results for samples with very low quantities of DNA and multiple source samples. On the downside, amplifications initiated with less than 0.4 ng of DNA exhibited a twofold increase in the standard deviation of peak ratios.

This research suggested a twofold approach to analyzing samples. For samples with greater than 0.25 ng of DNA, a 25 μL reaction is appropriate. Samples that did not demonstrate quantifiable results, or that have less than 0.25 ng, can be amplified by drying the sample directly in the PCR tube and amplifying in a 5 μL reaction. The analyst can expect at least limited results with as little as 0.03 ng of DNA in the 5 μL reaction.

Keywords:
forensic science, DNA typing, polymerase chain reaction, sensitivity, reduced volume reaction

Paper ID: JFS15554J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15554J
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