Citation

Ferreira-Silva B, Porto MJ, Magalhães T, Cainé L. J. Forensic Sci. 2019; 64(2): 534-538.

Affiliation

National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Jardim Carrilho Videira, 4050-167, Porto, Portugal.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.13879

PMID

30025166

Abstract

This investigation intends to study materials and techniques used for biological evidence collection in sexual assault cases and is divided into two stages: in stage one, methods for biological evidence collection (the single swab (including three variants) and the "double swab technique") were compared; in stage two, swabs' component material was compared. The sampling was composed of 42 heterosexual couples who provided mock samples. The collection methods in which the whole swab is covered by evidence presented significantly better outcomes (p < 0.001), such as the "double swab technique." Additionally, nylon swabs proved to present significantly better features regarding the capacity of sample elution, providing significantly higher amounts of DNA (p ≤ 0.034). This study provides guidelines for better collection of biological evidence regarding the collection method using a swab and the proper swab material to utilize.

© 2018 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

DNA typing; collection methods; double swab technique; forensic genetics; forensic science; nylon swab; sexual assault; swab with desiccator