title: Evaluation of a novel material, Diomics X-Swab™, for collection of DNA.
abstract: Success of DNA typing is related to the amount of target material recovered from an evidentiary item. Generally, the more DNA that is recovered, the better the chance is of obtaining a typing result that will be robust and reliable. One method of collecting stain materials is by swabbing. Recovery of DNA from a number of commercially available swabs is not an efficient process. The X-Swab™ (Diomics Corporation, La Jolla, CA) is a unique bio-specimen collection material with highly absorptive properties and can be dissolved during certain extraction conditions. Therefore, more DNA may be collected from a substrate and be released from the swab matrix than other swabs. The ability to recover DNA from X-Swab material and success in STR typing were compared with the Copan 4N6FLOQSwab™ (Brescia, Italy), a device which utilizes a proprietary flocked-swab technology to maximize DNA collection and elution efficiency. Both types of swabs were impregnated with known amounts of DNA and body fluids and allowed to air dry. In addition, blood was placed onto glass slides, allowed to dry and collected using both types of swabs. DNA recovery was assessed by DNA quantitation and by STR typing. Results suggested that X-Swab material yielded greater DNA recovery, particularly of low quantity samples (defined as diluted neat samples), compared with the 4N6FLOQSwab. Results also indicated that X-Swab material itself enhances yield of PCR products.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Genetics, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA. Electronic address: pamela.marshall@unthsc.edu.
authors.forename: Pamela L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Genetics, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; Centre for Biology of Integrated Systems, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoljarova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Genetics, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.
authors.forename: Bobby L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Larue
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Genetics, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Genetics, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research (CEGMR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Budowle
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D004247:DNA
keywords: Copan 4N6FLOQSwabs™; DNA collection; DNA quantitation; DNA recovery; Diomics X-Swab™; STR typing