Genetic testing and employee protection

Given advances in the science of genetics it is increasingly possible for individuals to acquire an increased understanding about their DNA. Employers may wish to access such information or may request that employees participate in genetic testing. An examination of the UK legislative framework to accommodate or to prevent such demands raises concern about the need to balance the employer's economic interests and the autonomy of the employee.     

Motherless case in paternity testing

In paternity test using the DNA evidence, the analysis of the deficient case that the DNA profiles of mother or alleged father are not available is different from that of the trio case analyzed routinely. However, the motherless case that the genotypes of mother is not available has been requested and analyzed like the trio case. In this paper, we compared the motherless case and the trio case through the mean exclusion chance describing the probability of exclusion for a genetic marker system and the distribution of the probability of paternity calculated using the three current methods. We have also shown a case which can be falsely discriminated if it were requested in the analysis of the motherless case, and conclude that the analysis of the motherless case should be carefully conducted and the level for the discrimination should be different from that of the trio case.     

Workplace drug testing in Europe

Not much information is available on workplace drug testing (WDT) in Europe. There is no specific legislation and there are no generally accepted guidelines. Many companies establish a drug policy with little or no provisions for drug testing. Often, testing is performed on-site by occupational physicians, with little or no quality control, no systematic confirmation of positives, no chain of custody and no adulteration testing. In some parts of Europe, e.g. in the United Kingdom and some Scandinavian countries, WDT is increasing in importance, but it is not as widespread as in USA. The most frequently performed tests are amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, opiates and alcohol. The percentage of positives is variable, but seems to decrease with the years following the introduction of WDT. Cannabis is the drug that is most frequently found.Recently, the European Workplace Drug Testing Society (EWDTS) was founded, with the aims to ensure that WDT in Europe is performed to a defined quality standard and in a legally secured way and to provide an independent forum for all aspects of WDT.A working group in the United Kingdom has recently finalised the United Kingdom laboratory guidelines for legally defensible WDT and discussions are under way with the EWDTS to establish common guidelines.Many efforts will be needed to establish WDT as an accepted part of a company policy on drugs: establishing and maintaining the confidence in the results of the laboratory, establishing the legal status of WDT, preserving the privacy and rights of the employees, proving the cost-effectiveness of WDT in a European context, finding a balance between strict guidelines and enough flexibility to tailor testing to the changing needs. It is hoped that the exchange of experience between different countries will contribute to reaching these goals.     

亲权鉴定若干问题综述

对亲权鉴定中遗传标记的研究历史及现状进行了综述，并对国际法医遗传学会亲子鉴定委员会关于DNA生物计算的建议进行了解读。     

毒物分析方法的确认

本文综述了毒物检验方法确认的研究进展，并对评价指标进行了讨论，为今后开展相关工作打下了基础。     

An American proficiency testing program

In 1975 the Forensic Sciences Foundation Inc. (FSF) under a grant from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) in the United States carried out a research project on the design and execution of a proficiency testing program for crime laboratories. Following completion of that research, FSF Inc. affiliated with Collaborative Testing Services Inc. (CTS) to maintain an operational program on a cost recoverable basis and with the assistance of a professional advisory committee (PAC) appointed by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD).This paper discusses the problems of running a proficiency testing program of this type on a national/international basis for a large number of laboratories and covering a variety of evidence categories. Problems of confidentiality of results, test design and production, results analysis and reporting are emphasized. Some evaluation is made of the general types of results reported in this program.     

酒后驾车血液呼气中乙醇检测方法评价

回顾了乙醇中毒检测的一些重要事件和发展趋势,对此领域内的一些先驱及其主要贡献略加介绍,并对血-气乙醇检测方法的原理、优缺点作了说明。血液检测方法包括湿化学方法、酶法、气相色谱法,呼气检测方法包括湿化学方法、电化学方法、气相色谱法和红外光谱法。欧洲血液检测方法进行地比较早,且较深入,北美则对呼气检测方法有比较透彻的研究。     

葡萄胎的亲缘关系鉴定

根据组织病理学特点及基因来源，葡萄胎可分为部分性葡萄胎和完全性葡萄胎。葡萄胎的类型及组织来源的判断除可采用组织病理学的方法外，还可采用STR基因座检测的方法。根据葡萄胎的类型、组织来源及受精方式，利用群体遗传学的原理和方法对葡萄胎进行亲缘关系鉴定。     

单亲亲子鉴定的分析研究

目的从理论和实际应用方面客观评价13～15个STR位点应用于单亲亲子鉴定的准确性。方法依据中国人群基因频率资料,计算单亲亲子鉴定的非父排除率及单亲亲子鉴定的亲子关系概率,并选择有明确排除结论的104例排除案例,分析统计其中父-子二联体出现的排除指标数。结果对于单亲亲子鉴定,选用13～15个STR位点,联合非父排除率为0.9805～0.9906;亲子关系概率均大于99.73%。104例二联体排除案例中,有3例的排除指标数小于2,未发现排除指标为零的现象。结论若应用ProfilerPlus和CofilerPlus试剂盒的13个STR位点进行日常单亲亲子鉴定工作,存在微弱漏判非父的风险,必要时增加检测指标数。不排除案例的单亲亲子鉴定,其亲子概率均可达国际认定标准。