Individual specific extraction of DNA from male mixtures--First evaluation studies

In forensic work, the interpretation of DNA profiles becomes complicated when samples contain more than one contributor because the simultaneous amplification of individual identification markers results in mixed profiles. To overcome this problem, we present haplotype-specific extraction (HSE) as a more straightforward method to analyze a DNA mixture. HSE has been developed to clarify ambiguous HLA alleles by separating diploid samples into their haploid components to facilitate HLA typing. We have started to establish new protocols and strategies to adapt HSE for the separation of male DNA mixtures in forensic analysis. First results have shown an improved enrichment of male DNA from a single contributor. We have also evaluated a new, optimized buffer composition by testing different concentrations of its components. Improved separation of a male DNA mixture is detected using AmpFℓSTR(®) Yfiler short tandem repeat analysis.