A Comparison Among Three Multiplex Y-STR Profiling Kits for Sexual Assault Cases

Abstract

Biological evidence of sexual assault is one of the most difficult sample types to analyze in forensic laboratories. Y-STR markers are thus a valuable tool for analyzing these samples. The aim of this project was to compare three Y-STR commercial kits by analyzing their amplification performance on casework samples. Overall, 247 trace samples were analyzed with a Yfiler^® Plus PCR Amplification Kit (Applied Biosystems), PowerPlex^® Y23 (Promega^® ) System and AmpFLSTR^® Yfiler™ PCR Amplification Kit (Applied Biosystems). Comparing the amplification performance of the three kits, the first two were significantly more sensitive than the latter (p < 0.001). For samples, with a male DNA quantity less than 0.5 ng, the PowerPlex Y23^® kit was the most sensitive and best performing kit, followed by the Yfiler^® Plus kit (p = 0.009). In conclusion, the Yfiler^® Plus and PowerPlex Y-23^® kits are viable alternatives to older kits for samples with low amounts of male DNA.

Keywords: DNA typing; PowerPlex® Y23; Yfiler® Plus; amplification kits; forensic genetics; forensic science; sexual assault; short tandem repeats of Y chromosome.