Abstract

Prior to forensic implementation, a profiling system requires validation following the recommendations presented by the Technical Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (TWG-DAM). In this work two such systems, AmpFℓSTR Profiler Plus and AmpFℓSTR COfiler have been validated according to the guidelines provided by TWGDAM. Profiler Plus and COfiler simultaneously amplify nine and six STR loci respectively; both also amplify a portion of the amelogenin gene. Performance of the two STR multiplex systems under conditions set forth by TWGDAM was robust and reproducible, indicating that these systems are suitable for use in forensic analysis. Additionally, specific sections of the TWGDAM validation guidelines are especially valuable in terms of familiarizing users with particular limitations of the systems prior to taking on casework.

References

1.
Schumm
J W
.
Genetic identity: new approaches to DNA fingerprint analysis
.
Promega Notes
58
:
12
-
20
.
2.
Deyl
Z
,
Miksik
I
,
Tagliaro
F
.
Advances in capillary electrophoresis
.
Forensic Sci Inter
1998
;
92
:
89
-
124
.
3.
Micka
K A
,
Sprecher
C J
,
Lins
A M
,
Comey
C T
,
Koons
B W
,
Crouse
C
, et al
Validation of multiplex polymorphic STR amplification sets developed for personal identification applications
.
J Forensic Sci
1996
;
582
-
90
.
4.
Smith
R N
.
Accurate size comparison of short tandem repeat alleles amplified by PCR
.
BioTechniques
 0736-6205
1995
;
18
:
122
-
8
.
5.
Micka
K A
,
Amiott
E A
,
Hockenberry
T L
,
Sprecher
C J
,
Lins
A M
,
Rabbach
D R
, et al
TWGDAM validation of a nine-locus and a four locus fluorescent STR multiplex system
.
J Forensic Sci
1999
;
44
:
1
-
15
.
6.
Budowle
B
,
Moretti
T R
,
Baumstark
A L
,
Defenbaugh
D A
,
Keys
K M
.
Population data on the thirteen CODIS core short tandem repeat loci in African Americans, U.S. Caucasians, Hispanics, Bahamians, Jamaicans, and Trinidadians
.
J Forensic Sci
1999
;
44
:
1277
-
86
.
7.
Baylor College of Medicine
, inventors.
PE Biosystems Applied Biosystems Corporation
, assignee.
AmpFℓSTR Profiler Plus PCR Amplification Kit. US Patent
 5,364,759.
8.
AmpFℓSTR Profiler Plus™ PCR Amplification Kit User's Manual, Rev. A (Part Number 4303501) The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
1997
.
9.
AmpFℓSTR COfiler™ PCR Amplification Kit User Bulletin, Rev. A (Part Number 4306116) The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
1998
.
10.
Hammond
H A
, et al
Evaluation of 13 short tandem repeat loci for use in personal identification applications
.
Am J Hum Genet
1994
;
55
:
175
-
89
.
11.
Lins
A M
,
Sprecher
C J
,
Puers
C
,
Schumm
J W
.
Multiplex sets for the amplification of polymorphic short tandem repeat loci—silver stain and fluorescence detection
.
BioTechniques
 0736-6205
1996
;
20
:
882
-
9
.
12.
Kimpton
C P
,
Gill
P
,
Walton
A
,
Urquhart
A
,
Millican
E S
,
Adams
M
.
Automated DNA profiling employing multiplex amplification of short tandem repeat loci
.
PCR methods and applications
1993
;
3
:
13
-
22
.
13.
Andersen
J F
,
Greenhalgh
M J
,
Butler
H R
,
Kilpatrick
S R
,
Piercy
R C
,
Way
K A
, et al
Further validation of a multiplex STR system for use in routine forensic identity testing
.
Forensic Sci Intern
1996
;
78
:
47
-
64
.
14.
Technical Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods and California Association of Criminalists Ad Hoc Committee on DNA Quality Assurance
.
Guidelines for a quality assurance program for DNA analysis
.
Crime Lab Digest
1995
;
22
:
21
-
50
.
15.
Wallin
J M
,
Buoncriani
M R
,
Lazaruk
K D
,
Fildes
N
,
Holt
C L
,
Walsh
P S
.
TWGDAM validation of the AmpFℓSTR blue PCR amplification kit for forensic casework analysis
.
J Forensic Sci
1998
;
43
:
854
-
70
.
16.
Budowle
B
,
Moretti
T R
,
Keys
K M
,
Koons
B W
,
Smerick
J B
.
Validation studies of the CTT STR multiplex system
.
J Forensic Sci
1997
;
4
:
701
-
7
.
17.
Forensic Science Research Training Center. Procedures for the detection of restriction length polymorphisms in human DNA,
FBI Laboratory
, Quantico, VA
1989
.
18.
Buel
E
,
Schwartz
M
.
The use of DAPI as a replacement for ethidium bromide in forensic DNA analysis
.
J Forensic Sci
1995
;
40
:
275
-
8
.
19.
Cina
S J
,
Collins
K A
,
Pettenati
M J
,
Fitts
M
.
Isolation and identification of female DNA on Postcoital Penile Swabs
.
Am J For Med Path
2000
;
21
:
97
-
100
.
20.
Walsh
P S
,
Fildes
N J
,
Reynolds
R
.
Sequence analysis and characterization of stutter products at the tetranucleotide repeat locus vWA
.
Nucl Acids Res
1996
;
24
:
2807
-
12
.
21.
LaFountain
M
,
Schwartz
M
,
Cormier
J
,
Buel
E
.
Validation of capillary electrophoresis for analysis of the X-Y homologous amelogenin gene
.
J Forensic Sci
1998
;
43
:
1188
-
94
.
22.
Smith
J R
,
Carpten
J D
,
Brownstein
M
,
Ghosh
S
,
Magnuson
V
,
Gilbert
D A
, et al
An approach to genotyping errors caused by non-templated addition of adenine by Taq DNA polymerase
.
Genome Res
1995
;
5
:
312
-
7
.
23.
Levinson
G
,
Gutman
G A
,
Slipped-strand mispairing: a major mechanism for DNA sequence evolution
.
Mol Biol Evol
1987
;
4
:
203
-
21
.
24.
Schlotterer
C
,
Tautz
D
.
Slippage synthesis of simple sequence DNA
.
Nucl Acids Res
1992
;
20
:211.
This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this content.