Evaluation of an automated DNA profiling system employing multiplex amplification of four tetrameric STR loci

We have examined the performance and reproducibility of an automated DNA profiling system which is based on the multiplex amplification of 4 tetrameric STR loci-HUMVWFA31/A. HUMTH01, HUMF13A1 and HUMFES/FPS. The system was able to type 100 pg of purified, undegraded, genomic DNA. At lower concentrations of DNA (below 100 pg), allelec drop-out occurred due to stochastic differences in allele copy number. Minor variation of individual PCR reagent concentrations or cycling temperatures did not result in a significant effect on the efficiency of amplification of any of the 4 loci in the quadruplex system. More substantial variation of reagent concentrations or cycling temperatures outside the optimum range of the system resulted in a reduction or complete loss of signal for one or more loci. This was also observed at high ionic strength or extreme pH. However, under all reagent concentrations and conditions studied, no artefact bands that could potentially result in the mistyping of a sample were apparent within the read region (130-240 bases) of the gel. Evaluation of both native and denaturing polyacrylamide gels revealed that, although native gels displayed faster run times, the sizing precision of such gels for certain STR loci was lower than that of denaturing gels. Also, artefact bands may be present within the read region of native gels. In conclusion the quadruplex amplification system described, coupled with automated fluorescence-based detection on denaturing polyacrylamide gels, appeared to be a robust and reliable system for individual identification.