College of Science & Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, Australia.
College of Science & Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, Australia.
Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2021 Sep;54:102559. doi: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102559. Epub 2021 Jun 29.
DNA profiling from capsules and tablets offers a complementary tool to that of chemical profiling when investigating the manufacture and trade in illicit drugs. By sampling the outside of capsules, individuals who may have handled them during production, assembly or distribution may have deposited their DNA and can be identified if matched to a nominated profile or one on a relevant DNA database. The profiles can also be compared to those found on other capsules to potentially link various drug seizures. This study sampled the exterior of capsules after they had been handled in a controlled scenario to determine if informative DNA profiles could be generated from this brief contact. Two individuals of intermediate shedder status washed their hands and waited for 30 min before handling ten gelatine, vegetable, and enteric vegetable capsules each (n = 60). Contact was made for 15 s. Each capsule was swabbed and DNA isolated. The amount of recovered human DNA was quantified and profiled using the Verifiler Plus DNA profiling kit. Profiles were generated from 82% (49/60) of capsules tested with LR values above 1 × 10 for the inclusion of the volunteer as a contributor. Inhibition of the PCR was detected in 24 of the 60 samples, however 16 of these still produced informative profiles when sufficient template DNA was available and only mild inhibition was detected, or by overcoming inhibition by dilution of the DNA extract. This pilot study demonstrates the potential for forensic science laboratories to recover human DNA from the exterior surface of capsules which are commonly used to encase illicit drugs such as MDMA, thus enabling both biological and chemical profiling methods to contribute to the investigation of clandestine drug production and distribution.
从胶囊和片剂中进行 DNA 分析为调查非法药物的制造和贸易提供了一种与化学分析相辅相成的工具。通过对胶囊外部进行采样，那些在生产、组装或分销过程中可能接触过胶囊的人可能会留下他们的 DNA，如果与指定的个人档案或相关 DNA 数据库中的档案相匹配，就可以对其进行识别。这些档案还可以与其他胶囊上的档案进行比较，以潜在地将各种毒品缉获案联系起来。本研究在受控情况下对已处理过的胶囊进行了外部采样，以确定从这种短暂接触中是否可以生成有意义的 DNA 档案。两名中等脱落者个体在洗手并等待 30 分钟后，每人处理了 10 个明胶、植物和肠溶植物胶囊（n=60）。接触时间为 15 秒。每个胶囊都进行了擦拭并提取了 DNA。使用 Verifiler Plus DNA 分析试剂盒对回收的人类 DNA 进行了定量和分析。从 60 个测试胶囊中的 82%（49/60）生成了档案，LR 值超过 1×10，以包含作为供体的志愿者。在 60 个样本中，有 24 个样本检测到 PCR 抑制，但在有足够模板 DNA 且仅检测到轻度抑制或通过稀释 DNA 提取物克服抑制的情况下，仍有 16 个样本生成了有意义的档案。这项试点研究表明，法医科学实验室有可能从通常用于封装摇头丸等非法药物的胶囊外部表面回收人类 DNA，从而使生物和化学分析方法都能够为秘密药物生产和分销的调查做出贡献。
