DNA analysis of fingernail debris using different multiplex systems: a case report

A 55-year-old male nurse was accused of having introduced his fingers by fo rce into the anus of a 20-year-old female patient. Debris from the fingerna ils of the suspect recovered 2 days after the incident was analysed with th e VNTR locus D1S80, the tripler PCR system AmpF/STR Blue kit, the AmpF/STR Profiler kit and the pentaplex system genRES MPX. The D1S80 singleplex reac tion revealed indications of DNA from the victim in the fingernail debris o f the left hand. Using the AmpF/STR Blue kit and AmpF/STR Profiler, DNA all eles of the victim were found at four additional loci, while allelic drop-o ut was observed at five other loci. Only the pentaplex kit genRES MPX revea led alleles at all loci which could be assigned to the victim. Calculation of likelihood ratios resulted in a value of 1.4 x 10(5) using the combinati on of the multiplex systems AmpF/STR Blue kit and AmpF/STR Profiler and 2.8 x 10(8) for the genRES MPX kit. This case demonstrates the high sensitivit y of the new genRES MPX kit and that DNA profiling of fingernail debris is possible despite a time lapse of 2 days between the incident and recovery o f the evidential material.