Strategies for DNA Analysis from Contaminated Forensic Samples

The capability of a standard forensic DNA purification kit (Charge Switch Forensic DNA Purification Kit, Invitrogen, USA) to decontaminate DNA samples from radionuclides typical for nuclear security scenarios was investigated with the aim to achieve sufficient decontamination for further processing the purified DNA sample in a standard forensic laboratory. It could be shown that measurement of the radionuclide in the initial lysis solution in combination with the decontamination factor for the investigated radionuclide allows demonstrating compliance with the necessary clearance limits for the purified DNA samples. Thus, we propose a strategy for analysing R/N contaminated DNA samples by separating DNA using the well-established Charge Switch method in a nuclear laboratory and then transferring the DNA to a forensic laboratory for further analysis.JRC.E.7-Nuclear Safeguards and Forensic