NCJ Number
219243
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 52 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2007 Pages: 784-799
Date Published
July 2007
Length
16 pages
Annotation
With a focus on the forensic community, this paper describes recent advances in microfluidic device technology as they pertain to forensic DNA typing, along with their advantages and potential shortcomings.
Abstract
Because of the potential impact of microchips on the forensic community, scientists have recently begun to address the unique precautions inherent in the analysis of forensic samples. As a result, the application, development, and validation of these devices for forensic DNA analysis has grown significantly, such that there is little doubt that a paradigm shift is occurring in forensic DNA testing. Still, a number of scientific and engineering problems must be resolved before microfluidic devices can become universally implemented in forensic laboratories. The foremost issue is the need to bridge the gap between the macroscale and microscale regimes. Specifically, the front end of the device must be able to accommodate "large" (hundreds of microliters) volumes for input of the biological material; the volumes typically manipulated on a chip are less than 1 ml and for separations less than 1 nl. For example, in a sexual assault case, biological material is typically eluted from a vaginal swab in approximately 500 ml; therefore, the microdevice must be able to accommodate the entire volume and concentrate the purified DNA into nanoliters to be directed to the PCR chamber for amplification in a total reaction volume of less than 1 ml. Modular, single-process devices and totally integrated microfluidic systems are in development to fill both high-throughput batched and complete single-sample analysis niches. With the development, validation, and implementation of microfluidic devices for forensic DNA evidence, forensic scientists would be equipped with a rapid analysis technology that could radically change the established approach to DNA analysis by enabling more efficient casework processing. 11 figures and 121 references