Sampling touch DNA from human skin following skin‐to‐skin contact in mock assault scenarios — A comparison of nine collection methods

Kallupurackal, Venus; Kummer, Sonja; Voegeli, Pamela; Kratzer, Adelgunde; Dørum, Guro; Haas, Cordula; Hess, Sabine

doi:10.1111/1556-4029.14733

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Kallupurackal, V., Kummer, S., Voegeli, P., Kratzer, A., Dørum, G., Haas, C., & Hess, S. (2021). Sampling touch DNA from human skin following skin‐to‐skin contact in mock assault scenarios — A comparison of nine collection methods. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 66(5), 1889–1900. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14733

Abstract

Collection of touch DNA from an offender on the victim's skin can provide relevant evidence for investigations of criminal cases. Therefore, the choice of the optimal sample collection method is crucial. In this study, we investigated the recovery of STR profiles from touch DNA on human skin by comparing nine different collection methods: the dry and wet cotton swabs in three different movements, the double-swab (wet–dry) method, the wet and dry Copan FLOQSwabs™, and the Scene Safe FAST™ minitapes. Mock assault scenarios were conducte