Evaluation of Commercial Kits for Dual Extraction of DNA and RNA from Human Body Fluids, , |
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| Authors: | Andrew J. Schweighardt Ph.D. Courtney M. Tate Ph.D. Kristina A. Scott M.S. Kathryn A. Harper M.S. James M. Robertson Ph.D. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit, Visiting Scientist Program, Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, Quantico, VA;2. Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, Quantico, VA |
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| Abstract: | STR typing of DNA evidence can identify the donor with a high power of discrimination but cannot identify the tissue origin of a body‐fluid stain. Using RNA to attribute a crime scene stain to a particular tissue may aid in reconstruction efforts. With blood from 10 donors, four DNA and RNA coextraction kits were evaluated by measuring yields and STR and mRNA profiles. T tests indicated some significant differences in kit performance. The Zymo Research ZR‐Duet? kit performed best based on average DNA (41.4 ng) and mRNA (4.07 ng) yields and was the only kit to provide complete DNA/RNA profiles for all samples. The consistency of this kit was challenged by data from additional blood and saliva donors. Further testing is advised before a superior kit is unequivocally chosen. Stand‐alone DNA or RNA purification generally offers higher yield, but coextraction may still allow successful STR profiling and tissue source identification. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science RNA DNA coextraction dual extraction mRNA profiling body‐fluid identification forensic DNA analysis STR profiling |
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