Photo-dissolvable Swabs for Improved Recovery of Forensic Samples

As submitted by the proposer: GE Global Research and the University of Akron propose to develop a photo-dissolvable swab that enables efficient recovery of DNA from biological samples including trace samples. The photo-dissolvable swab will function in the same manner as a regular swab during sample collection and can be completely degraded by DNA-friendly longwave UV light. This will allow swab dissolution into buffers used in the extraction tube without requiring special buffer or dilution and allow amplification of DNA trace samples without DNA pre-concentration. This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law. ca/ncf