A forensic laboratory tests the Berkeley microfabricated capillary array electrophoresis device.
Miniaturization of capillary electrophoresis onto a microchip for forensic short tandem repeat analysis is the initial step in the process of producing a fully integrated and automated analysis system. A prototype of the Berkeley microfabricated capillary array electrophoresis device was installed at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science for testing. Instrument performance was verified by PowerPlex 16 System profiling of single source, sensitivity series, mixture, and casework samples. Mock sexual assault samples were successfully analyzed using the PowerPlex Y System. Resolution was assessed using the TH01, CSF1PO, TPOX, and Amelogenin loci and demonstrated to be comparable with commercial systems along with the instrument precision. Successful replacement of the Hjerten capillary coating method with a dynamic coating polymer was performed. The accurate and rapid typing of forensic samples demonstrates the successful technology transfer of this device into a practitioner laboratory and its potential for advancing high-throughput forensic typing.
Virginia Department of Forensic Science, DNA Unit, 700 North 5th Street, Richmond, VA 23219, USA. Susan.Greenspoon@dfs.virginia.gov
Susan A
SA
Greenspoon
Stephanie H I
SH
Yeung
Kelly R
KR
Johnson
Wai K
WK
Chu
Han N
HN
Rhee
Amy B
AB
McGuckian
Cecelia A
CA
Crouse
Thomas N
TN
Chiesl
Annelise E
AE
Barron
James R
JR
Scherer
Jeffrey D
JD
Ban
Richard A
RA
Mathies
D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011902:Rape; D013094:Spermatozoa; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences