mRNA profiling for the identification of blood—Results of a collaborative EDNAP exercise

Received 23 October 2009; received in revised form 26 December 2009; accepted 8 January 2010. published online 08 February 2010.
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Abstract

A collaborative exercise on mRNA profiling for the identification of blood was organized by the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP). Seven blood samples and one blood dilution series were analyzed by the participating laboratories for the reportedly blood-specific markers HBB, SPTB and PBGD, using different kits, chemistries and instrumentation. The results demonstrate that HBB is expressed abundantly in blood, SPTB moderately and PBGD significantly less. All but one of the 16 participating laboratories were able to successfully isolate and detect RNA from the dried bloodstains even though a majority of the laboratories had no prior experience with RNA. Despite some expected variation in sensitivity between laboratories, the method proved to be reproducible and sensitive using different analysis strategies. The results of this collaborative exercise support the potential use of mRNA profiling as an alternative to conventional serological tests.

Keywords: Forensic science, mRNA profiling, Body fluid identification, Blood, EDNAP exercise

a Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland

b National Center for Forensic Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA

c Netherlands Forensic Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands

d Forensic Science Service, Birmingham, UK

e Institute of Forensic Science, Department of Criminalistic Biology and Genetic Analysis, Bratislava, Slovakia

f Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Strasbourg, France

g Reparto Investigazioni Scientifiche di Roma, Rome, Italy

h Section of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

i Bundeskriminalamt, Wiesbaden, Germany

j Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway

k Institute of Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Austria

l Institute of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of the Interior, Dpt. of Biology and DNA Analysis, Slovenská Lupca, Slovakia

m Forensic Genetic Service, Centre Branch, National Institute of Legal Medicine, Portugal

n Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Muenster, Germany

o Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Germany

p Institut National de Police Scientifique, Laboratoire de Police Scientifique de Lyon, France

q Forensic Genetics Unit, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Corresponding author at: Institute of Legal Medicine, Forensic Genetics, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland. Tel.: +41 44 635 56 56; fax: +41 44 635 68 58.

PII: S1872-4973(10)00011-6

doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2010.01.003