Developmental Validation of the ParaDNA Screening System - A Presumptive Test for the Detection of DNA on Forensic Evidence Items

• NCJ Number: 251276
• Author(s): Nick Dawnay, Dave Moore, Stephen Blackman, Paul Rendell, Erin K. Hanson, Jack Ballantyne, Beatrice Kallifatidis, Julian Mendel, DeEtta K. Mills, Randy Nagy, Simon Wells
• Date Published: January 2016
• Length: 7 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored

Annotation

This article describes a developmental validation study that tested the sensitivity, reproducibility, accuracy, inhibitor tolerance, and performance of the ParaDNA Screening System on a range of mock evidence items.

Abstract

The current assessment of whether a forensic evidence item should be submitted for STR profiling is largely based on the personal experience of the crime scene investigator (CSI) and the submissions policy of the law enforcement authority involved. Although there are chemical tests that can infer the presence of DNA through the detection of biological stains, the process remains mostly subjective and leads to many samples being submitted that give no profile or not being submitted although DNA is present. The ParaDNA Screening System was developed to address this issue. It consists of a sampling device, preloaded reaction plates and detection instrument. The test uses direct PCR with fluorescent HyBeacon detection of PCR amplicons to identify the presence and relative amount of DNA on an evidence item and also provides a gender identification result in approximately 75 minutes. This simple-to-use design allows objective data to be acquired by both DNA analysts and non-specialist personnel in enabling a more informed submission decision to be made. The data collected in the current study show that the ParaDNA Screening System identifies the presence of DNA on a variety of evidence items, including blood, saliva, and touch DNA items. (Publisher abstract modified)