Forensic DNA Analysis: An Overview of the Laboratory Process

Developing a suitable DNA profile from forensic evidence has long been a lengthy, multi-step laboratory process. Over the last couple of decades, the “process” has exploded into a plethora of numerous options for each of the individual steps, including different manufacturers and commercial kits, as well as options for manual, semi-automated, and automated processing. Despite these options, the heart of the big picture process remains fairly consistent with its early 2000s counterpart and is deeply embedded with a wide variety of precautions to help prevent contamination and ensure integrous results. This includes habitual cleaning, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), using sterile products and reagents, processing controls, and employing strategic laboratory practices. This chapter serves to briefly introduce new audiences to the forensic DNA process, particularly from a laboratory perspective. Invaluable information regarding routine precautions is included here, and it is highly recommended that this chapter be read first, as much of the information applies to nearly all the chapters of this text.