Forensic applications of molecular genetic analysis: an Italian collaborative study on paternity testing by the determination of variable number of tandem repeat DNA polymorphisms.

Several variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) DNA polymorphisms detecting different loci (YNH24/MspI or TaqI, CMM101/MspI or MLJ14/MspI, EFD64.2/RsaI or HinfI, YNZ22/TaqI, AW101/EcoRI, EKMDA2.1/PvuII and 3'-HVR/PvuII) were used in the analysis of 27 cases of disputed paternity in the Italian population. Fourteen exclusions and 17 attributions were performed. The results were compared with those obtained with immunohematologic analyses. Four exclusions and 2 attributions were made possible only by the combined use of several DNA polymorphisms, as the analyses of red-blood-cell antigens and isoenzymes, serum proteins and HLA group determinants were inconclusive. With the DNA test, 10 exclusions and 15 attributions were confirmed, with increased overall probability. In conclusion, VNTR polymorphisms were more informative, accurate and sensitive than the immunohematologic tests. Therefore, DNA analysis is the method of choice for testing genetic relationships.