title: The effectiveness of protective clothing in the reduction of potential DNA contamination of the scene of crime.
abstract: The use of ultra-sensitive low copy number (LCN) DNA typing allows the analysis of picogram amounts of DNA. Trace evidence accidentally left at a scene of crime (SOC) by the investigating team may be inadvertently collected and analysed, potentially leading to spurious evidence being introduced into the criminal investigation. A series of experiments were undertaken to determine the extent to which an investigator could contribute to any DNA contamination of a scene of crime under different simulated activities. Further, the degree to which any contamination was reduced by the use of commercially available protective clothing was demonstrated. Precautions that should routinely be taken at a scene of crime to reduce the risk of DNA contamination are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Division of Forensic Pathology University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Robert Kilpatrick Building, PO Box 65, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK. gnr3@le.ac.uk
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Rutty
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hopwood
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tucker
mesh_terms: D003371:Cough; D003415:Crime; D019548:Crime Victims; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D004777:Environment; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement; D011481:Protective Clothing; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation; D013060:Speech
chemical_list: D004247:DNA