Cleaning protocols in forensic genetic laboratories

Marie-Louise Kampmann; Jacob Tfelt-Hansen; Claus Børsting

doi:10.1007/s00414-024-03232-0

Cleaning protocols in forensic genetic laboratories

Int J Legal Med. 2024 Apr 23. doi: 10.1007/s00414-024-03232-0. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Marie-Louise Kampmann¹, Jacob Tfelt-Hansen^{2

3}, Claus Børsting²

Affiliations

¹ Section of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. marie.louise.kampmann@sund.ku.dk.
² Section of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ The Department of Cardiology, The Heart Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

PMID: 38649547
DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03232-0

Abstract

It is pivotal to avoid cross-sample contamination in forensic genetic laboratories and optimal cleaning protocols for the removal of DNA are essential. A survey was performed, and ten forensic genetic laboratories shared their cleaning protocols in pre-PCR and post-PCR laboratories. The cleaning frequencies on different surface areas were somewhat similar, whereas none of the laboratories used the same cleaning reagents. Therefore, the efficiencies of the cleaning protocol utilised were tested and compared. The results showed that freshly made household bleach and Virkon® removed all amplifiable DNA from the surfaces, whereas DNA AWAY™ and the disinfection reagents ethanol, isopropanol, and ChemGene HLD₄L did not.

Keywords: Contamination; DNA; Forensic genetics; Laboratory cleaning; PCR; qPCR.