title: RNA/DNA co-analysis from human saliva and semen stains--results of a third collaborative EDNAP exercise.
abstract: A third collaborative exercise on RNA/DNA co-analysis for body fluid identification and STR profiling was organized by the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP). Twenty saliva and semen stains, four dilution series (10-0.01 μl saliva, 5-0.01 μl semen) and, optionally, bona fide or mock casework samples of human or non-human origin were analyzed by 20 participating laboratories using an RNA extraction or RNA/DNA co-extraction method. Two novel mRNA multiplexes were used: a saliva triplex (HTN3, STATH and MUC7) and a semen pentaplex (PRM1, PRM2, PSA, SEMG1 and TGM4). The laboratories used different chemistries and instrumentation and a majority (16/20) were able to successfully isolate and detect mRNA in dried stains. The simultaneous extraction of RNA and DNA from individual stains not only permitted a confirmation of the presence of saliva/semen (i.e. tissue/fluid source of origin), but allowed an STR profile of the stain donor to be obtained as well. The method proved to be reproducible and sensitive, with as little as 0.05 μl saliva or semen, using different analysis strategies. Additionally, we demonstrated the ability to positively identify the presence of saliva and semen, as well as obtain high quality DNA profiles, from old and compromised casework samples. The results of this collaborative exercise involving an RNA/DNA co-extraction strategy support the potential use of an mRNA based system for the identification of saliva and semen in forensic casework that is compatible with current DNA analysis methodologies.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. cordula.haas@irm.uzh.ch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Anjos
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Banemann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carracedo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Courts
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Cock
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dötsch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hollard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hjort
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoff-Olsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hríbiková
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindenbergh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ludes
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Maroñas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McCallum
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morling
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Niederstätter
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Parson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Popielarz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rapone
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Roeder
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sijen
authors.forename: D Syndercombe
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Court
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sviežená
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turanská
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vidaki
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zatkalíková
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ballantyne
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA