Detection of STR, D1S80, and gender alleles from body fluids collected on IsoCode™ foam collectors and paper-based devices

The analysis of short tandem repeat (STR) and variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism is used extensively in forensic analysis, paternity testing, and gene mapping. In the current research, DNA stored on IsoCode™ Stix and Prototype 2b paper-based devices obtained from Schleicher and Schuell, Inc. (Keene, NH) were subsequently amplified and analyzed by a "paper-in" amplification procedure. Saliva was collected on foam devices from the same manufacturer and transferred to the paper devices. After drying, a Stix triangle or the Prototype 2b paper was rinsed three times with sterile distilled water. Rinsed pieces were placed directly into the amplification reaction and amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. Preparation of template DNA for amplification took less than 5 minutes using this simple method. Amplification and detection of STR, D1S80, and gender loci using an infrared (IR) fluorescence automated DNA sequencer or silver-stain technology was accomplished within 1 day.