Developmental validation of FaSTR™ DNA: Software for the analysis of forensic DNA profiles

• Main Authors: Meng-Han Lin, Shan-I Lee, Xinlong Zhang, Laura Russell, Hannah Kelly, Kevin Cheng, Stuart Cooper, Richard Wivell, Zane Kerr, Judi Morawitz, Jo-Anne Bright
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-07-01
• Series: Forensic Science International: Reports
• Subjects: DNA typing; DNA analysis; Developmental Validation; DNA profiling; Analysis Software
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910721000487

The analysis of forensic DNA profiles is complicated by the presence of undesirable artefactual peaks such as stutter, pull-up, and dye blobs. We describe the developmental validation of FaSTR™ DNA analysis software, which can assist with the streamlined analysis of forensic DNA profiles. A total of 3403 single-source and mixed DNA profiles generated using seven different STR profiling kits were analysed in FaSTR™ DNA. Results were compared with outputs from GeneMapper™ ID-X analysis software. Over 99.95% of peak designations were concordant, corresponding to over 232,000 peaks. There were no significant differences found in peak size however differences in peak height were observed between the software programmes. Peaks greater than 1000 rfu were generally taller in GeneMapper™ ID-X than in FaSTR™ DNA. At lower peak heights, peaks were often taller in FaSTR™ DNA, due to differences in how each software applies baseline correction to the electropherogram. Allele-specific stutter filters in FaSTR™ DNA correctly designated 99.3% of stutter peaks analysed (5174 peaks comprising four stutter types) in 265 single-source GlobalFiler™ profiles. FaSTR™ DNA was shown to be effective for its intended use as analysis software for the designation of alleles and the identification of artefacts such as stutter, pull-up, and spikes.