title: Evaluation of commercial kits for dual extraction of DNA and RNA from human body fluids.
abstract: STR typing of DNA evidence can identify the donor with a high power of discrimination but cannot identify the tissue origin of a body-fluid stain. Using RNA to attribute a crime scene stain to a particular tissue may aid in reconstruction efforts. With blood from 10 donors, four DNA and RNA coextraction kits were evaluated by measuring yields and STR and mRNA profiles. T tests indicated some significant differences in kit performance. The Zymo Research ZR-Duet(™) kit performed best based on average DNA (41.4 ng) and mRNA (4.07 ng) yields and was the only kit to provide complete DNA/RNA profiles for all samples. The consistency of this kit was challenged by data from additional blood and saliva donors. Further testing is advised before a superior kit is unequivocally chosen. Stand-alone DNA or RNA purification generally offers higher yield, but coextraction may still allow successful STR profiling and tissue source identification.
authors.affiliation: Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit, Visiting Scientist Program, Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA, 22135.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schweighardt
authors.forename: Courtney M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: Kristina A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA; RNA; STR profiling; body-fluid identification; coextraction; dual extraction; forensic DNA analysis; forensic science; mRNA profiling