The problem of DNA contamination in forensic case work—How to get rid of unwanted DNA?

Leading-edge forensic DNA analyses and the necessity of including crime scene investigators, police officers and technicians in a DNA elimination database

“…This unknown female was originally dubbed the "Phantom of Heilbronn", yet later to be identified as the woman who manufactured the cotton swabs used by crime scene workers. Although a number of decontamination protocols may be implemented prior to DNA analysis, some techniques have yielded contradictory results, and contamination from laboratory personnel and manufacturing staff may still be detected [19,20]. One Québec supplier of evidence bags has provided their employees' DNA samples to be incorporated into the staff elimination database during elimination sweeps, and this same practice has been observed in many different European forensic laboratories as well [21].…”

Misinterpretation of sample contamination in a Hungarian casework

“…The risk of contamination [1][2][3][4][5] must never be ignored in forensic examination, and the evaluation of minor/major components of a mixed profile can lead to a wrong interpretation. The different and controversial results do present a genuine problem to be solved; ignorance of undiscussed results may hide the truth.…”

“…The risk of contamination is a generally recognized and intensively researched field of forensic DNA [1][2][3][4][5].…”

“…

A B S T R A C TThe risk of contamination is a generally recognized and intensively researched field of forensic DNA [1][2][3][4][5].In spite of quality assurance systems, recommendations and regulations, this risk is always present even in routine casework as evidenced by this example from Hungary. In a murder case, buried bodies were discovered and exhumed.

…”

Sexual assault consultations – From high risk to high reliability

“…13 Further investigations revealed that not all conventional irradiation techniques resulted in the complete removal of amplifiable DNA in manufacturing sterilisation processes. 14,15 Due to errors at the manufacturing stage, the latent threats were so deeply embedded into the system that practitioners and investigators could not predict or detect the errors until multiple adverse events had occurred. Concepts such as TEM and situational awareness have up until now been foreign to the majority of those practising in the area of sexual assault.…”