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Effect of Small Particle Reagent Employed as a Fingerprint Enhancement Technique on Subsequent STR Typing From Bloodstains

NCJ Number
197822
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 52 Issue: 6 Dated: November/December 2002 Pages: 691-695
Author(s)
Ashira Zamir; Carla Oz; Amihud Leifer; Boris Geller
Editor(s)
Alan L. McRoberts
Date Published
November 2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether the use of Small Particle Reagent (SPR) as a fingerprint enhancement technique would be detrimental to the DNA analysis by short tandem repeat (STR) typing from bloodstains.
Abstract
Small Particle Reagent (SPR) is a technique used for visualizing latent fingerprints on nonporous surfaces and not routinely used in the visualization of blood prints. However, occasionally evidence that is not slated for any type of serological examination may be processed with SPR, and then later if the evidence is determined to contain blood, a DNA analysis maybe desired. This study examined whether STR typing can be successfully carried out on bloodstains after SPR treatment. The study was carried out in two phases: (1) determining whether the SPR treatment would interfere with the ability to obtain typeable DNA and (2) determining whether the physical thickness of the bloodstain affected STR typing after treatment with SPR or whether SPR affected only the outer layer of the bloodstain and does not penetrate to the depth of the bloodstain. The study was able to demonstrate that initial processing with SPR did not interfere with the ability to recover typeable DNA for further STR typing. The results indicate that DNA analysis may be carried out after forensic evidence has been processed for latent fingerprints using the SPR technique. References

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