Removal of amplifiable DNA with EO treatment prior to forensic sampling
The recent debacle with contaminated forensic cotton swabs in Germany (see Times Online article) has shown that correct treatment of forensic consumables is key to correctly and efficiently resolving criminal cases. Prionics uses ethylene oxide (EO) to treat its forensiX products. This method has been shown by Shaw et al., to be the only procedure that does not deliver readable DNA profiles that could be added to a DNA database.
Reprinted from Shaw et al., with permission by Springer
Ethylene oxide is a toxic gas that kills bacteria (incl. endospores), molds and fungi. It also splits up DNA helixes into small fragments that are then too small to deliver a DNA profile that could be loaded into a DNA database. The publication by Shaw et al., demonstrates that EO treatment does not affect any downstream DNA analysis.
*Ref: Kirsty Shaw et al; Int J Legal Med (2008) 122:29-33 > PubMed Abstract
