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                            Funding & Awards
 Evaluating the Efficiency of the Use of the QiagenÂ® QIAsymphonyÂ® with High Throughput Y-screening as an Alternative to Conventional Serology
Award Information
Awardee
              Marshall University Research Corporation
Award #
              2015-R2-CX-K039
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Huntington, WV
Congressional District
              3
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2015
Total funding (to date)
              $154,577
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 15 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2015, $154,577)
As submitted by the proposer: 

Sexual Assault Kit backlogs have been a common topic in news stories in recent years throughout the United States. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), there are 237,868 victims of rape/sexual assault per year. The goal of this project is to develop a high throughput screening method for the presence of male DNA. The aim of this project is to increase laboratory efficiency by performing a Y-screen utilizing the Qiagen® QIAsymphony® on a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) extract instead of completing conventional serology.

Historically, serology screening has been the method for processing sexual assault kits. Drawbacks of this method include: false positives and negatives, difficulty in automation, subjective interpretation, and lengthy time commitments to a microscope. Screening for male DNA (Y-screen) enables the process to be automated, using a 96 well format allowing for the screening of up to 88 samples simultaneously on a PCR-based method. This method brings objectivity to the screening process and provides a downstream correlation similar to the current DNA analysis techniques.

A process unique to this approach is taking a larger cutting from the evidence; cells will be extracted from the sample with PBS buffer. One-tenth of this will be extracted utilizing DTT based extraction buffer on the Qiagen® QIAsymphony® that will lyse all cells. Quantitative PCR with simultaneous male and human DNA quantitation setup will then occur on the Qiagen® QIAgility® robotic liquid handler. Then the screening of samples based on the presence or absence of male DNA will occur. For positive samples, a differential separation and extraction will then be performed on the remaining original PBS sample extract. The cutting size and PBS soak allow for a homogenous sampling creating an accurate representation of the DNA on the evidence. This project will compare and evaluate laboratory efficiency of the Y-screen model versus conventional serology. All samples will be screened with both procedures. Analyst time and reagent use will be logged for the cost analysis.

This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law.

ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Evaluating the Efficiency of the Use of the Qiagen QIAsymphony with High Throughput Y-screening as an Alternative to Conventional Serology

  
Date Created: September 16, 2015
    
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