NCJ Number
212918
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 51 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2006 Pages: 76-81
Date Published
January 2006
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study tested the effectiveness of quantitative template amplification technology (Q-TAT) as an alternate method for quantitating human genomic DNA.
Abstract
The study concluded that the Q-TAT assay for the quantitation of human genomic DNA is both sensitive and reproducible. It also enables a forensic DNA-typing lab to use existing technology and instrumentation to produce an accurate estimate of the amount of human genomic DNA recovered from biological evidence. The Q-TAT assay can provide an estimate of male and female DNA in a mixed sample from a sexual assault by plotting on the fluorescence under the Y amplicon with comparison with Y amplicon fluorescence in a standard curve prepared from male DNA. Q-TAT was found to be more sensitive than widely used slot-blot methods, but was somewhat less sensitive than real-time PCR. Q-TAT estimates the quantity of human DNA present in an extract by comparing fluorescence in X and Y amplicons produced from unknowns with fluorescence in a standard curve amplified from known quantities of reference DNA. It uses PCR and electrophoresis with fluorescent detection/quantitation, precluding the need for new instrumentation, methodology, or quality assurance associated with slot-blot or real-time PCR. This study used a comparison study that incorporated shared samples. 3 figures, 1 table, and 17 references