Comparing Extraction and Direct Amplification Methods for Enhanced Touch DNA Profiling

Abstract

This study compares the effectiveness of traditional DNA extraction and direct amplification methods for Touch DNA profiling across various surface sizes and materials. The methods were evaluated based on DNA yield and profile quality, with RFU signal strength and allele detection used as key metrics. The results show that direct amplification—using MicroFLOQ™ Direct swabs and SceneSafe Fast™ minitape—exhibits superior performance on smaller surfaces (p < 0.05), enabling faster and more efficient DNA recovery. In contrast, extraction is more effective for larger surface areas (p < 0.001), suggesting a complementary role for both methods depending on the forensic context. These findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate collection and amplification techniques based on surface size, improving both the efficiency and accuracy of forensic DNA analysis. The research offers valuable guidance for optimizing Touch DNA profiling, with potential applications in criminal investigations and forensic laboratories. Future work could explore the integration of these methods with advanced DNA technologies to further enhance recovery from challenging samples.