title: Validation of probabilistic genotyping software for use in forensic DNA casework: Definitions and illustrations.
abstract: A number of new computer programs have recently been developed to facilitate the interpretation and statistical weighting of complex DNA profiles in forensic casework. Acceptance of such software in the user community, and subsequent acceptance by the court, relies heavily upon their validation. To date, few guidelines exist that describe the appropriate and sufficient validation of such software used in forensic DNA casework. In this paper, we discuss general principles of software validation and how they could be applied to the interpretation software now being introduced into the forensic community. Importantly, we clarify the relationship between a statistical model and its implementation via software. We use the LRmix program to provide specific examples of how these principles can be implemented.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Forensic Institute, Department of Human Biological traces, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hinda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haned
authors.affiliation: Norwegian institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, United States.
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lohmueller
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminal Justice Administration, California State University, East Bay, 4069 Meiklejohn Hall, 25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94542, United State.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inman
authors.affiliation: 650 Castro Street, Suite 120-404, Mountain View, CA 94041, United States.
authors.forename: Norah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rudin
mesh_terms: D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D012984:Software
keywords: Genotyping; LRmix; Likelihood ratio; Probabilistic; Strength of evidence; Validation