title: DNA Analysis and Document Examination: The Impact of Each Technique on Respective Analyses.
abstract: Threatening letters, counterfeit documents, and anonymous notes can commonly be encountered in criminal situations. Such handwritten documents may encourage DNA to transfer from the writer's hands and lower arms when these areas come into contact with the document. As any DNA transferred is likely to be at a low level, sensitive low copy number (LCN) DNA analysis can be employed for testing document exhibits. In this study, we determine locations on the document that are most commonly touched during writing and handling and compare DNA recovery from these sites. We describe the impact of DNA sampling on subsequent document examination techniques including the ESDA(®) and likewise the effect of the ESDA(®) and two other document examination techniques on subsequent DNA analysis. The findings from this study suggest that DNA results can be obtained through targeted sampling of document evidence, but that care is required when ordering these examination strategies.
authors.affiliation: The Forensic Biology Group, ESR, Mt Albert Science Centre, Private Bag 92-021, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: The New Zealand Police Document Examination Section, Wellington Central Police Station, PO Box 693, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sharfe
authors.affiliation: The Forensic Biology Group, ESR, Mt Albert Science Centre, Private Bag 92-021, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vintiner
mesh_terms: D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D005260:Female; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D014110:Touch; D014956:Writing
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA profiling; SGM Plus™; cell recovery; document examination; electrostatic detection apparatus; forensic science; low copy number