Comparative evaluation of adhesive tapes and stamps for touch DNA collection from textile substrates

A substantial proportion of forensic evidence consists of skin or contact traces, commonly referred to as touch DNA. The collection of such biological material remains challenging due to its invisibility and low abundance. Further, depending on substrate type and surface properties, different recovery methods are employed, with adhesive tapes and stamps commonly applied to textile evidence. Although tape lifting is routine in many jurisdictions, limited data exist on the relative efficiency of adhesive materials, the optimal number of lifts, and their comparative performance in touch DNA recovery from textiles. To address the gap, this study evaluated four commercially available adhesive tapes/stamps for touch DNA collection from fabrics. A high DNA-shedding volunteer deposited touch DNA on cotton, denim, and, unexamined fleece in replicates (n = 360) using DNA Tape, Scene Safe Fast™ Minitapes, Force-Forex Adhesive Stamp, and DNA Stub Recording Stamp, as well as standard and increased lysis buffer volumes. No statistically significant differences were observed in DNA yield or STR profile quality among tapes, though substrate type notably influenced DNA recovery, and handling differences among products were noticed. Touch DNA deposition on denim showed high intraindividual variability. Increased lysis buffer volume did not alter extraction efficiency. Considering both performance and usability, the DNA Tape remained the preferred option in this DNA laboratory, while the DNA Stub Recording Stamp represented a practical alternative for on-site police collection.