Evaluation of Rapid DNA system for buccal swab and disaster victim identification samples

An evaluation of a Rapid DNA system was performed using buccal swab samples and mock Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) samples collected postmortem. The allelic ladder success rate was 90% and samples analyzed simultaneously with this allelic ladder were used for further analysis. Sample success rate of the Rapid DNA system for buccal swab samples, and blood and muscle DVI samples were calculated. Success rates of buccal swab samples were 100% and 75% using cassettes preloaded with all reagents suitable for high- and low-DNA content samples, respectively. Success rates of fresh DVI samples were 80% to 100%. Success rates of putrefied DVI samples varied widely between 0% and 20% and 50% to 80% depending on cassette and sample types. Conventional DNA analysis was performed for comparison with the results of the Rapid DNA system. DNA quantity and degradation of human DNA were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. DVI samples that yielded more than 1 ng/µL of DNA when extracted with conventional protocols were suitable for analysis using cassettes for both high- and low-DNA content samples. DVI samples with less than 0.1 ng/µL of DNA were suitable only for analysis using cassettes for low-DNA content samples. All alleles called and exported by the Expert system software implemented in the Rapid DNA system were concordant with allele calls made by conventional capillary electrophoresis DNA analysis.