Journal Published Online: 01 September 2001
Volume 46, Issue 5

AmpFℓSTR® Profiler Plus™ and AmpFℓSTR® COfiler™ Analysis of Tissues Stored in GenoFix™, a New Tissue Preservation Solution for Mass Disaster DNA Identification

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

A preliminary study was conducted to assess the capability of a new alcohol-based tissue fixative, GenoFix™, to preserve DNA from biopsy tissues stored at room temperature and/or -20°C in a freezer, for subsequent short tandem repeat (STR) DNA typing analysis. Fresh human smooth muscle samples were stored at room temperature in GenoFix™ for one month and up to one year and seven months before being processed using the megaplex STR systems, AmpFℓSTR® Profiler Plus™ and AmpFℓSTR® COfiler™. Alternatively, muscle tissues in GenoFix™ were placed at -20°C in a freezer for up to 3 ½ years following two to three months in the fixative at room temperature. DNA analysis was also carried out on tissues stored in GenoFix™ for one month at room temperature and subsequently paraffin-embedded and stored at room temperature for four years. The AmpFℓSTR® Profiler Plus™ and AmpFℓSTR® COfiler™ STR profiles produced, using DNA extracted from all fixed tissue samples, were of very good quality. The fluorescent signals were well balanced across the nine STR loci or six loci comprised in the megaplexes surveyed and profiles showed no differences with those observed for the control blood of the respective donor patients. Continuous exposure to GenoFix™ at room temperature (up to one year and seven months) did not compromise the STR typing analysis of the fixed tissues. No adverse effects were noted on the STR typeability of tissues fixed with GenoFix™ and stored at -20°C in a freezer for up to 3 ½ years. STR profiles generated from the paraffin-embedded tissues fixed in GenoFix™ were of excellent quality. This preliminary study suggests that GenoFix™ can be used to store tissue samples at room temperature for up to one year and seven months or at -20°C in a freezer for longer storage (up to 3 ½ years). This new and odorless tissue fixative promotes tissue and DNA preservation in a very effective manner and as such may prove useful in criminal investigations or mass disaster identifications carried out in remote locations and in which a small or large number of tissue samples are collected for further analyses.

Author Information

Frégeau, CJ
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, National DNA Data Bank, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Vanstone, H
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, National DNA Data Bank, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Borys, S
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, National DNA Data Bank, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
McLean, D
Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Maroun, JA
Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Chaim Birnboim, H
Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Fourney, RM
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, National DNA Data Bank, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Pages: 11
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Stock #: JFS15119J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15119J