Abstract
Tape-lifting and swabbing are two methods commonly used for collecting biological samples in the United Kingdom and United States to investigate vehicle crimes. Determining the optimal collection method may lead to an increase in generating DNA profiles and crime-solving. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of adhesive tape and the double-swab collection methods for investigating vehicle crimes with possible touch DNA samples. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of tape-lifts and swabs on spiked common vehicle fabric materials. The efficiency of recovery between the two collection methods was performed using qPCR. The results from the collection of fabric materials indicated tape-lifts outperformed swabbing on cloth and vinyl substrates, while swabbing resulted in comparable recovery on leather substrates. By optimizing sample collection techniques, we aim to aid not only investigations involving vehicles but also other crimes with touch DNA evidence present.
Recommended Citation
Tang, Kevin; Ramirez, Jesse; Bond, John; Weart, Jocelyn; DeLaTorre, Yvette; Fitch, Ian; and Lee, Steven
(2017)
"Optimizing Collection of Trace Biological Samples from Vehicle Headrests,"
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science: Vol. 5
:
Iss.
1
, Article 7.
https://doi.org/10.31979/THEMIS.2017.0507
https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/themis/vol5/iss1/7
Included in
Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Evidence Commons, Forensic Science and Technology Commons, Molecular Biology Commons
