title: Recovery of Trace DNA on Clothing: A Comparison of Mini-tape Lifting and Three Other Forensic Evidence Collection Techniques.
abstract: Trace DNA is often found in forensic science investigations. Experience has shown that it is difficult to retrieve a DNA profile when trace DNA is collected from clothing. The aim of this study was to compare four different DNA collection techniques on six different types of clothing in order to determine the best trace DNA recovery method. The classical stain recovery technique using a wet cotton swab was tested against dry swabbing, scraping and a new method, referred to as the mini-tape lifting technique. Physical contact was simulated with three different "perpetrators" on 18 machine-washed garments. DNA was collected with the four different DNA recovery methods and subjected to standard PCR-based DNA profiling. The comparison of STR results showed best results for the mini-tape lifting and scraping methods independent of the type of clothing. The new mini-tape lifting technique proved to be an easy and reliable DNA collection method for textiles.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science Institute Zurich, P.O. Box, 8021, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.affiliation: Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Genetics, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Cordula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D003020:Clothing; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D005260:Female; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA analysis; DNA collection technique; contact stains; crime scene investigation; forensic science; mini-tapes; touch DNA; trace DNA