Highlights
- •General knowledge and experience to NGS applies to forensic laboratories worldwide.
- •Limited funding and training have the largest impact on NGS implementation plans.
- •Main concerns include lack of bioinformatics support and statistical applications.
- •In the 1–5 years, CE will remain the main technology, with an increase of NGS.
- •A gradual CE to NGS technology shift is expected in 5–10 + years.
Abstract
The future of forensic DNA testing is being shaped by the research and usage of next-generation
systems, which have increased the multiplexing capabilities of the field and the type
and amount of genetic data that can be utilized for investigations. The NGS adoption
for casework has been slow, albeit the plethora of data that has been published. This
study evaluated the current opinions on sequencing in forensics. A 20-question online-survey
focusing on NGS knowledge, training, and usage was distributed to 6001 forensic DNA
researchers and practitioners worldwide. A total of 367 responses were obtained from
all continents (North/South America (69.8%), Europe (21.2%), Asia (5.5%), Oceania
(2.5%), and Africa (1%)). The respondents consisted of 50% practitioners, 31% researchers,
and 19% both. Of these, 38% already own a next-gen sequencing instrument, and 13%
are planning to purchase one. Overall, there exists an extensive knowledge on next-gen
sequencing within the forensic community, including among laboratories that have not
yet implemented this high-throughput technology in their workflows. Current usage
focuses primarily on SNP analysis for investigative leads and mitochondrial DNA analysis
while future applications included both STR and SNP testing applied to general casework.
The major overall concerns respondents have for implementing a sequencing instrument
include limited funding, staffing, lack of time, and the cost-effectiveness of providing
this service. Specific technical concerns that the respondents had are the lack of
training, statistical applications, bioinformatics support, and of rigorous guidelines
and recommendations. Most of the respondents do believe there will be a technology
shift from using CE only to the use of NGS on casework in 5–10 years. In addition,
around 66% of respondents believe that it is moderately to very likely that the court
will accept sequencing analysis. Sixteen percent fell in the middle, and the remaining
15% believe it is more unlikely, with 3% of respondents believing it is very unlikely.
In conclusion, this work outlines current analytical challenges experienced by the
global forensic DNA community and addresses different strategies for the implementation
of next-gen sequencing technologies in casework.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 09, 2022
Accepted:
December 7,
2022
Received in revised form:
November 28,
2022
Received:
August 19,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
