title: Evaluation of Skin Surface as an Alternative Source of Reference DNA Samples: A Pilot Study.
abstract: An acceptable area for collecting DNA reference sample is a part of the forensic DNA analysis development. The aim of this study was to evaluate skin surface cells (SSC) as an alternate source of reference DNA sample. From each volunteer (n = 10), six samples from skin surface areas (forearm and fingertips) and two traditional samples (blood and buccal cells) were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted and quantified then genotyped using standard techniques. The highest DNA concentration of SSC samples was collected using the tape/forearm method of collection (2.1 ng/μL). Cotton swabs moistened with ethanol yielded higher quantities of DNA than swabs moistened with salicylic acid, and it gave the highest percentage of full STR profiles (97%). This study supports the use of SSC as a noninvasive sampling technique and as a extremely useful source of DNA reference samples among certain cultures where the use of buccal swabs can be considered socially unacceptable.
authors.affiliation: College of Forensic Sciences, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, P.O. Box: 6830, Riyadh, 11452, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Albujja
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, P.O. Box: 1816, Majmaah, 11952, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdul Aziz
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bin Dukhyil
authors.affiliation: College of Forensic Sciences, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, P.O. Box: 6830, Riyadh, 11452, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdul Rauf
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.affiliation: College of Forensic Sciences, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, P.O. Box: 6830, Riyadh, 11452, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed Ch
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kassab
authors.affiliation: College of Forensic Sciences, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, P.O. Box: 6830, Riyadh, 11452, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Refaat
authors.affiliation: College of Forensic Sciences, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, P.O. Box: 6830, Riyadh, 11452, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saranya Ramesh
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.affiliation: College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box: 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Okla
authors.affiliation: College of Forensic Sciences, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, P.O. Box: 6830, Riyadh, 11452, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sachil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA reference sample; fingertip; forearm; forensic science; skin surface cells; swabbing; tape lift