Date of Graduation

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Forensic and Investigative Science

Committee Chair

Keith Morris

Committee Co-Chair

Clif Bishop

Committee Member

Tina Moroose

Abstract

This research presented an idea to aid crime laboratories in the selection of the best quantification method for use in DNA analysis in their laboratory. The goal of this research was to evaluate the suitability of using an external reference standard, the NIST SRM 2372 Human Quantitation Standard, to increase the quality of quantification results of human DNA analysis in commercially available kits. Additionally, the DNA standard included with the commercial kit, used for developing a standard curve, was evaluated for accuracy and stability beyond the recommended time frame. The commercial quantification kits tested were: QuantifilerRTM Trio DNA Quantification Kit (Applied Biosystems(TM), Life Technologies), PlexorRTM HY System (Promega Corporation), and InvestigatorRTM Quantiplex HYres (Qiagen). It was found that generally the concentration of the NIST SRM 2372 was not accurately quantifying in all three quantification kits. Furthermore, it was found that each standard curve dilution series varied in accuracy, as well as stability.

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