Mitochondrial DNA validation in a state laboratory.

Because of the inception of the FBI Regional mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) laboratories, many do not see establishing state/local mtDNA processing laboratories as a priority. Yet there is a long-term need for mtDNA processing that will exceed the capabilities of the FBI Regional mtDNA laboratories and the few other laboratories that are currently processing mtDNA, and that need can be fulfilled by state/local laboratories. Thus, the DNA Unit of the Delaware Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME-DNA Unit) completed validation of in-house mtDNA testing in January 2007. The validation plan for mtDNA processing included the following sections: preliminary research, sensitivity and contamination studies, ExoSAP-IT optimization, BigDye optimization, sequencing and 310 optimization, sample preparation and extraction optimization, heteroplasmy, mixtures, and reproducibility. All sections of the validation were successfully completed, and mtDNA processing of skeletal remains, teeth, and hairs, as well as blood and buccal reference samples was adopted by the OCME-DNA Unit.