Evaluation of Commercial Kits for Dual Extraction of DNA and RNA from Human Body Fluids

• Andrew J. Schweighardt ^[1] ; Courtney M. Tate ^[1] ; Kristina A. Scott ^[1] ; Kathryn A. Harper ^[1] ; James M. Robertson ^[2]
  1. [1] Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit Visiting Scientist Program Quantico VA
  2. [2] Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit Quantico VA
• Localización: Journal of forensic sciences, ISSN-e 1556-4029, ISSN 0022-1198, Vol. 60, Nº. 1, 2015, págs. 157-165
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • 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 TM 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.