Interlaboratory Studies Related to Forensic DNA Typing

[NIST Studies] [EDNAP/ENFSI Studies]

Inter-laboratory tests are the means by which multiple laboratories compare results and demonstrate that the methods used in one’s own laboratory are reproducible in another laboratory.  These tests are essential to demonstrate consistency in results from multiple laboratories, especially since DNA databases are now used where many laboratories contribute to the DNA profile information (J.M. Butler, Forensic DNA Typing, p. 216).

 

Interlab Studies Coordinated by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology Human Identity Team

Study/Purpose # Labs Publications
RFLP Studies 22 Mudd JL, Baechtel FS, Duewer DL, Currie LA, Reeder DJ, Leigh SD, Liu H‑K. (1994) Interlaboratory comparison of autoradiographic DNA profiling measurements. 1. Data and summary statistics.  Anal. Chem. 66: 3303‑3317
20 Duewer DL, Currie LA, Reeder DJ, Leigh SD, Liu H‑K, Mudd JL. (1995) Interlaboratory comparison of autoradiographic DNA profiling measurements. 2. Measurement uncertainty and its propagation.  Anal. Chem. 67: 1220‑1231
22 Stolorow AM, Duewer DL, Reeder DJ, Buel E, Herrin G Jr. (1996) Interlaboratory comparison of autoradiographic DNA profiling measurements. 3. Repeatability and reproducibility of RFLP band sizing, particularly bands of molecular size > 10k base pairs.  Anal. Chem. 68: 1941‑1947
22 Duewer DL, Currie LA, Reeder DJ, Leigh SD, Filiben JJ, Liu H‑K, Mudd JL. (1997) Interlaboratory comparison of autoradiographic DNA profiling measurements. 4. Protocol effects  Anal. Chem. 69: 1882-1892
36 Duewer DL, Lalonde SA, Aubin RA, Fourney RM, Reeder DJ. (1998) Interlaboratory comparison of autoradiographic DNA profiling measurements: precision and concordance.  J. Forensic Sci. 43: 465-471
29/20 Duewer DL, Richie KL, Reeder DJ. (2000) RFLP band size standards: NIST Standard Reference Material® 2390.  J. Forensic Sci. 45: 1093-1105
51 (>1000 data sets) Duewer DL, Gary KT, Reeder DJ. (2000) RFLP band size standards: Cell line K562 values from 1991 – 1997 proficiency studies.  J. Forensic Sci. 45: 1106-1118
Evaluation of CSF1PO, TPOX, and TH01 34 Kline MC, Duewer DL, Newall P, Redman JW, Reeder DJ, Richard M. (1997)  Interlaboratory evaluation of STR triplex CTT.  J. Forensic Sci. 42: 897-906
Mixed Stain Studies #1 and #2 (Apr.–Nov 1997 and  Jan–May 1999) 45 Duewer DL, Kline MC, Redman JW, Newall PJ, Reeder DJ. (2001) NIST Mixed Stain Studies #1 and #2: interlaboratory comparison of DNA quantification practice and short tandem repeat multiplex performance with multiple-source samples.  J. Forensic Sci. 46: 1199-1210
Mixed Stain Study #3 (Oct 2000-May 2001) 74 Kline, M.C., Duewer, D.L., Redman, J.W., Butler, J.M. (2003) NIST mixed stain study 3: DNA quantitation accuracy and its influence on short tandem repeat multiplex signal intensity. Anal. Chem. 75: 2463-2469.

Duewer, D.L., Kline, M.C., Redman, J.W., Butler, J.M. (2004) NIST Mixed Stain Study #3: signal intensity balance in commercial short tandem repeat multiplexes, Anal. Chem. 76: 6928-6934.
DNA Quantitation Study (Jan-Mar 2004) 80 Kline, M.C., Duewer, D.L., Redman, J.W., Butler, J.M. (2005) Results from the NIST 2004 DNA Quantitation Study. J. Forensic Sci. 50(3): 571-578.

 

Mixture Interpretation Study (Jan-June 2005)

 

 69

 [Poster summary for participants]

 [January 2007 presentation on results]
Mixture Interpretation Study 2013  

 

 

 Currently on-going...

Some references regarding graphical tools for evaluating RFLP intralab performance:

 

Interlab Studies Conducted by the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP) or the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI)

Study/Purpose # Labs Publications
RFLP studies   Schneider et al. (1991) Report of a European collaborative exercise comparing DNA typing results using a single locus VNTR probe. Forensic Sci. Int. 49: 1-15
  Gill et al. (1992) A report of an international collaborative experiment to demonstrate the uniformity obtainable using DNA profiling techniques. Forensic Sci. Int. 53: 29-43
Examination of TH01 and ACTBP2 (SE33) 14 Gill et al. (1994) Report of the European DNA profiling group (EDNAP) - towards standardization of short tandem repeat (STR) loci. Forensic Sci. Int. 65: 51-59
Examination of TH01, VWA, FES/FPS, F13A1 30 Kimpton et al. (1995) Report on the second EDNAP collaborative STR exercise. Forensic Sci. Int. 71: 137-152
Evaluation of TH01 and VWA 16 Andersen et al. (1996) Report on the third EDNAP collaborative STR exercise. Forensic Sci. Int. 78: 83-93
Evaluation of D21S11 and FGA 16 Gill et al. (1997) Report of the European DNA profiling group (EDNAP): an investigation of the complex STR loci D21S11 and HUMFIBRA (FGA). Forensic Sci Int 86: 25-33
Examination of ACTBP2, APAI1 and D11S554;

Evaluation of D12S391 in 7 labs and D1S1656

 7; 12 Gill et al. (1998) Report of the European DNA Profiling group (EDNAP) - an investigation of the hypervariable loci ACTBP2, APOA11 and D11S554 and the compound loci D12S391 and D1S1656. Forensic Sci. Int. 98: 193-200
Evaluation of mtDNA sequencing   Carracedo et al. (1998) Reproducibility of mtDNA analysis between laboratories: a report of the European DNA Profiling group (EDNAP). Forensic Sci. Int. 97: 155-164
Use of DYS385 14 Schneider et al. (1999) Results of a collaborative study regarding the standardization of the Y-linked STR system DYS385 by the European DNA Profiling (EDNAP) group. Forensic Sci. Int. 102: 159-165
Evaluation of pentaplex for DYS19, DYS389I/II, DYS390, and DYS393 18 Carracedo et al. (2001) Results of a collaborative study of the EDNAP group regarding the reproducibility and robustness of the Y-chromosome STRs DYS19, DYS389 I and II, DYS390 and DYS393 in a PCR pentaplex format. Forensic Sci. Int. 119: 28-41
Examination of artificially degraded DNA samples 38 Schneider et al. (2004) STR analysis of artificially degraded DNA—results of a collaborative European exercise. Forensic Sci. Int. 139: 123-134
Examination of mtDNA sequencing issues 21 Parson et al. (2004) The EDNAP mitochondrial DNA population database (EMPOP) collaborative exercises: organisation, results and perspectives. Forensic Sci. Int. 139: 215-226
Evaluation of mtDNA heteroplasmy in hairs 10 Tully et al. (2004) Results of a collaborative study of the EDNAP group regarding mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy and segregation in hair shafts. Forensic Sci. Int. 140: 1-11
Evaluation of 11 Y-SNP markers (SRY-1532, M40, M35, M213, M9, 92R7, M17, P25, M18, M153, M167) 8 Brion et al. (2005) A collaborative study of the EDNAP group regarding Y-chromosome binary polymorphism analysis. Forensic Sci. Int. 153: 103-108
Evaluation of degraded DNA with low-copy number STR profiling, miniSTRs, and SNPs 9 Dixon et al. (2006) Analysis of artificially degraded DNA using STRs and SNPs--results of a collaborative European (EDNAP) exercise. Forensic Sci. Int. 164:33-44.

Some recommendations from EDNAP regarding forensic DNA typing systems:

  • Gill P, Brinkmann B, d'Ajola E, Andersen J, Bär W, Carracedo A, Dupuy B, Eriksen B, Jangblad a, Johnsson V, Kloosterman AD, Lincoln P, Morling N, Rand S, Sabatier M, Scheithauer R, Schneider PM, Vide MC. (1997) Considerations from the European DNA profiling group (EDNAP) concerning STR nomenclature. Forensic Sci Int. 87: 185-192
  • Tully G, Bär W, Brinkmann B, Carracedo A, Gill P, Morling N, Parson W, Schneider PM (2001) Considerations by the European DNA profiling (EDNAP) group on the working practices, nomenclature and interpretation of mitochondrial DNA profiles. Forensic Sci. Int. 124: 83-91
  • Gill, P., Fereday, L., Morling, N., Schneider, P.M. (2006) The evolution of DNA databases--recommendations for new European loci. Forensic Sci. Int. 156:242-244.
  • Gill, P., Fereday, L., Morling, N., Schneider, P.M. (2006) Letter to the Editor: New multiplexes for Europe--Amendments and clarification of strategic development. Forensic Sci. Int., in press.

 

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Last Updated: 08/26/2013