Presenter Information
Devin Doyle, BS; Forensic Science and Law Program
Abstract
Storage of collected samples is a concern for all disciplines of forensic science. Without proper storage, especially DNA samples, the DNA will become unusable as it could become degraded, cross contaminated with other samples, etc. Much of the preliminary research revealed that there were very few studies on the storage of forensic samples regarding ideal protocols, let alone those that involved combining as many controlled storage aspects such as temperature, humidity, and UV exposure. This research focuses on the Evidence Preservation System (EPS) by Forensic Solutions, Inc., which is a controlled environment able to be programmed to control temperature and humidity while also preventing UV radiation exposure and bacterial growth on samples. The purpose of the research was to perform comparative studies between normal laboratory storage conditions of -20 oC, 4 oC, and room temperature environments, and the EPS unit storage by examining their effects on the quantity and quality of degraded DNA samples as well as the drying weight of samples. Various experimental samples and controls were placed into each storage environment to have been stored over a 6-month period of time. Every month, 5 samples, 1 positive control, and 1 negative control were removed from each storage environment from both the degradation study and the drying weight study experiment groups. The degradation samples would undergo extraction, quantitation, amplification, and detection to determine any changes in quality and quantity of the DNA between storage environments. The drying weight samples would have their weights recorded and compared for any weight changes between the storage environments. Due to the importance of the storage of forensic samples across all disciplines, the EPS unit could a very useful resource that could change and potentially improve the way various forensic samples are stored.
School
Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Advisor
Lisa Ludvico, Ph.D, Pamela Marshall, Ph.D
Submission Type
Poster
Included in
The Effects of the Evidence Preservation System (EPS) on the Storage of DNA Samples
Storage of collected samples is a concern for all disciplines of forensic science. Without proper storage, especially DNA samples, the DNA will become unusable as it could become degraded, cross contaminated with other samples, etc. Much of the preliminary research revealed that there were very few studies on the storage of forensic samples regarding ideal protocols, let alone those that involved combining as many controlled storage aspects such as temperature, humidity, and UV exposure. This research focuses on the Evidence Preservation System (EPS) by Forensic Solutions, Inc., which is a controlled environment able to be programmed to control temperature and humidity while also preventing UV radiation exposure and bacterial growth on samples. The purpose of the research was to perform comparative studies between normal laboratory storage conditions of -20 oC, 4 oC, and room temperature environments, and the EPS unit storage by examining their effects on the quantity and quality of degraded DNA samples as well as the drying weight of samples. Various experimental samples and controls were placed into each storage environment to have been stored over a 6-month period of time. Every month, 5 samples, 1 positive control, and 1 negative control were removed from each storage environment from both the degradation study and the drying weight study experiment groups. The degradation samples would undergo extraction, quantitation, amplification, and detection to determine any changes in quality and quantity of the DNA between storage environments. The drying weight samples would have their weights recorded and compared for any weight changes between the storage environments. Due to the importance of the storage of forensic samples across all disciplines, the EPS unit could a very useful resource that could change and potentially improve the way various forensic samples are stored.