title: Comparison of the effects of sterilisation techniques on subsequent DNA profiling.
abstract: It is important that contamination from extraneous DNA should be minimised on items used at crime scenes and when dealing with exhibits within the laboratory. Four sterilisation techniques (UV, gamma and beta radiation and ethylene oxide treatment) were examined for their potential to degrade contaminating DNA to such an extent that subsequent DNA profiling was impossible. This work indicated that the most successful technique to reduce DNA contamination was ethylene oxide treatment. Of the radiation techniques tested in this study, gamma was the most successful at eradicating DNA and UV radiation was the least. None of the contaminated samples treated with ethylene oxide and subsequently subjected to DNA analysis met the DNA profile criteria necessary for acceptance on the UK National DNA Database. Contaminated cotton swabs and micro-centrifuge tubes treated with ethylene oxide showed a marked decrease in amplifiable DNA post-treatment. Ethylene oxide treatment to sterile swabs and tubes did not significantly affect subsequent DNA analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Science and Drug Monitoring, King's College London, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
authors.forename: Kirsty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sesardić
authors.forename: Nikki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bristol
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ames
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dagnall
authors.forename: Caryn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Daniel
mesh_terms: D001610:Beta Particles; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004202:Disinfectants; D005027:Ethylene Oxide; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D005027:Ethylene Oxide