Generation of DNA profiles from fingerprints developed with columnar thin film technique. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Plazibat, Stephanie L.; Roy, Reena; Swiontek, Stephen E.; Lakhtakia, Akhlesh
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 257(2015)
• Page Start: 453
• Page End: 457
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Forensic science -- Alq3 -- Columnar thin film (CTF) -- Fingerprint development -- AmpFℓSTR® Identifiler Plus; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.10.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Highlights: Columnar thin film (CTF) technique with Alq3 does not inhibit DNA analysis. Complete and concordant STR profiles obtained from CTF-developed partial-bloody fingerprints. Partial-bloody fingerprints yielded better STR profiles than saliva-wetted fingerprints. Same quality of STR profiles from CTF-developed and undeveloped fingerprints. Abstract: Partial-bloody fingerprints and partial fingerprints with saliva are often encountered at crime scenes, potentially enabling the combination of fingerprint and DNA analyses for absolute identification, provided that the development technique for fingerprint analysis does not inhibit DNA analysis. 36 partial-bloody fingerprints and 30 fingerprints wetted with saliva, all deposited on brass, were first developed using the columnar-thin-film (CTF) technique and then subjected to short tandem repeat (STR) DNA analysis. Equal numbers of samples were subjected to the same DNA analysis without development. Tris (8-hydroxyquinolinato) aluminum, or Alq3, was evaporated to deposit CTFs for development of the prints. DNA was extracted from all 132 samples, quantified, and amplified with AmpFlSTR ® Identifiler Plus Amplification Kit. Additionally, DNA analyses were conducted on four blood smears on un-fingerprinted brass that had been subjected to CTF deposition and four blood smears on un-fingerprinted brass that had not been subjected to CTF deposition. Complete and concordant autosomal STR profiles of the same quality were obtained from both undeveloped and CTF-developed fingerprints, indicating that CTF development of fingerprints preserves DNA and does not inhibit subsequent DNA analysis. Even when there were no fingerprints, CTF deposition did not lead to inhibition of DNA analysis.