Influence of post-mortem changes on DNA typing (D1S80, TH01, HLA DQA 1, and PM typing system): case studies for...

Between 1996 and 2002, we tested a total of 20 unidentified bodies for DNA typing. We describe here the relationships among detection rates achieved by four DNA typing systems (D1S80 typing, TH01 typing, HLA DQA1 typing, and PM typings), the post-mortem interval, types of specimens (bone, nail, and blood), post-mortem changes, and the site at which the corpse was found (indoors, outdoor, or in the sea). Detection rates for PM typings, HLA DQA1 typing, TH01 typing, and D1S80 typing in all cases were 94.7, 90.0, 73.7, and 50.0%, respectively. The success of the typings was highly influenced by the post-mortem interval. Using blood, almost all DNA types were detected, while the nail showed comparatively higher detection rates than bone. The detection rate decreased in order with indoor, outdoor, sea, and soil as the site at which the corpse was found. It is important to consider the specimen, the site at which the corpse was found, and the post-mortem interval to successfully achieve DNA typing.