title: Validating multiplexes for use in conjunction with modern interpretation strategies.
abstract: In response to requests from the forensic community, commercial companies are generating larger, more sensitive, and more discriminating STR multiplexes. These multiplexes are now applied to a wider range of samples including complex multi-person mixtures. In parallel there is an overdue reappraisal of profile interpretation methodology. Aspects of this reappraisal include 1. The need for a quantitative understanding of allele and stutter peak heights and their variability, 2. An interest in reassessing the utility of smaller peaks below the often used analytical threshold, 3. A need to understand not just the occurrence of peak drop-in but also the height distribution of such peaks, and 4. A need to understand the limitations of the multiplex-interpretation strategy pair implemented. In this work we present a full scheme for validation of a new multiplex that is suitable for informing modern interpretation practice. We predominantly use GlobalFiler™ as an example multiplex but we suggest that the aspects investigated here are fundamental to introducing any multiplex in the modern interpretation environment.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science South Australia, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. Electronic address: Duncan.Taylor@sa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, Private Bag 92021, Auckland 1142 New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jo-Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bright
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, Private Bag 92021, Auckland 1142 New Zealand.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGoven
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science South Australia, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hefford
authors.affiliation: U.S Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory, Defense Forensic Science Centre, Forest Park, GA 30297, USA.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kalafut
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, Private Bag 92021, Auckland 1142 New Zealand.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buckleton
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D053803:Forensic Genetics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: Continuous DNA interpretation; DNA mixtures; Forensic DNA interpretation; GlobalFiler; Modelling; STRmix