Department of Forensic Biology

Forensic Biology Protocols for Forensic STR Analysis

This manual contains individual procedures and protocols pertaining to Nuclear DNA testing of biological specimens. They are organized based on each step of the DNA testing process.

The procedures on this page apply to versions in effect from January 1, 2025, to the present. The effective dates are indicated in the file name in the format MM/DD/YY - MM/DD/YY. Documents will open in .PDF format.

Note: The most current manual in each section is the first link listed.

Expand All Collapse All

Click or press the enter key on any topic below to access the relevant PDF file of the associated procedure.

General Guidelines for Forensic Biology and DNA Casework

General Guidelines for Forensic Biology and DNA Casework effective 10/11/24 – current

Extraction Procedures

Differential Extraction from Semen Stains or Swabs Utilizing the QIAcube and EZ1

Differential Extraction from Semen Stains or Swabs Utilizing the QIAcube and EZ1 effective 02/16/23 – current

DNA Extraction of Bone Samples

DNA Extraction of Bone Samples effective 07/24/24 – current

DNA Extraction of Hair

DNA Extraction of Hair effective 02/27/17 – current

Examination and Direct Lysis Procedure for Cartridge Casings

Examination and Direct Lysis Procedure for Cartridge Casings effective 07/10/23 – current

Extraction of Exogenous DNA from Nails

Extraction of Exogenous DNA from Nails effective 12/31/24 – current

MaxSuite Automated DNA IQ Extraction from Casework Samples

MaxSuite Automated DNA IQ Extraction effective 09/05/24 – current

Manual Appendix for MaxSuite Software

Manual Appendix for MaxSuite Software effective 05/10/24 – current

Microcon DNA Fast Flow DNA Concentration and Purification

Microcon DNA Fast Flow DNA Concentration and Purification effective 08/30/21 – current

Organic Extraction

Organic Extraction effective 08/29/23– current

QIAGEN EZ1 Advanced XL DNA Extraction from Bloodstains and Other Casework Samples

EZ1 Extraction from Bloodstains and Other Casework Samples effective 03/30/23 – current

Qiagen Casework GO! Y Screen of Sexual Assault Stains or Swabs

Casework GO! Y Screen of Sexual Assault Stains or Swabs effective 03/29/24 – current

Reconstitution of Evaporated Extracts

Reconstitution of Evaporated Extracts effective 06/30/21 – current

Recovery of Spotted DNA Extracts from Whatman FTA Elute MicroCards

Recovery of Spotted DNA Extracts from Whatman FTA Elute MicroCards effective 12/31/24 – current

Direct Amplification Procedures

PowerPlex Fusion Direct Amplification of DNA from Buccal Swabs

PowerPlex Fusion Direct Amplification of DNA from Buccal Swabs effective 09/09/22 – current

Quantitation Procedures

Quantifiler Trio DNA Quantification Kit

Quantifiler Trio DNA Quantification Kit effective 12/20/24 – current

Amplification Procedures

Using the Mastercycler X50s

Using the Mastercycler X50s effective 12/21/2023 – current

Amplification using the Power Plex Y23 System

Amplification using the Power Plex Y23 System effective 08/22/22 – current

Amplification using the Power Plex Fusion System

Amplification using the Power Plex Fusion System effective 09/20/23 – current

Electrophoresis and Analysis Procedures

General Guidelines for Fluorescent STR Analysis

General Guidelines for Fluorescent STR Analysis effective 08/29/23 – current

PowerPlex Fusion and Y23 - Capillary Electrophoresis

PowerPlex Fusion and Y23 - Capillary Electrophoresis effective 05/16/24 – current

GeneMarker Manual

GeneMarker 3.0 Manual effective 01/08/24 – current

STR Analysis on the 3500xL Genetic Analyzers

STR Analysis on the 3500xL Genetic Analyzers effective 07/01/24 – current

PowerPlex Fusion Ladder, Positive External Control, and Size Standard Appendix

Fusion Ladder, PE, and SS Appendix effective 12/13/16 – current

Editing Codes

Editing Codes effective 03/28/23 – current

ReRun Codes

ReRun Codes effective 07/02/24 – current

GeneMarker Quality Reasons Index

GeneMarker Quality Reasons Index effective 12/13/16 – current

Manual Appendix for PowerPlex Y23 (3500xL)

Manual Appendix for PowerPlex Y23 on 3500xL effective 11/12/24 – current

Manual Appendix for PowerPlex Fusion (3500xL)

Manual Appendix for PowerPlex Fusion on the 3500xL effective 03/28/23 – current

Appendix for PowerPlex Fusion Stutter (3500xL)

Appendix for PowerPlex Fusion Stutter 03/31/23 – current

Manual Appendix for PowerPlex Fusion (3130xL)

Manual Appendix for PowerPlex Fusion effective 09/07/21 – current

Interpretation and Comparison Procedures

Interpretation of PowerPlex Y23 data run on 3500xL

Interpretation of PowerPlex Y23 data run on 3500xL effective 07/24/24 – current

Interpretation of PowerPlex Fusion data run on 3500xL

Interpretation of PowerPlex Fusion data run on 3500xL effective 10/11/24 – current

STR Results Interpretation - PowerPlex Fusion & STRmix

STR Results Interpretation - PowerPlex Fusion & STRmix effective 08/05/22 – current

Additional Interpretations of Y-STR Results and Complex Y-STR Results

Additional Interpretations of Y-STR Results and Complex Y-STR Results effective 10/19/18 – current

Sample Comparisons - Identifiler and YFiler

Sample Comparisons - Identifiler and YFiler effective 12/01/20 – current

STR Results Interpretation - Identifiler and YFiler

STR Results Interpretation - Identifiler and YFiler effective 02/01/21 – current

Reinterpretation of Legacy Data

Reinterpretation of Legacy Data effective 08/26/21 – current

YFiler, Identifiler, and Minifiler References - Allelic Ladders, Controls, and Size Standards

References Allelic Ladders, Controls, and Size Standards effective 06/20/16 – current

Statistics Procedures

STRmix v 2.7 Probabilistic Genotyping Software Operating Instructions

STRmix v 2.7 Probabilistic Genotyping Software Operating Instructions 10/11/24 – current

STRmix v 2.4 Probabilistic Genotyping Software Operating Instructions

STRmix Probabilistic Genotyping Software Operating Instructions effective 12/31/24 – current

STRmix Glossary

STRmix Glossary effective 06/04/24 – current

Usage of the "Y-Mixture tool" / "Y-Mix Database Filter"

Usage of the "Y-Mix Database Filter" effective 07/12/24 – current

Population Frequencies for STR's

Population Frequencies for STR's effective 04/27/21 – current

Forensic Statistical Tool

Forensic Statistical Tool effective 08/26/21 – current

Paternity and Kinship

Kinship and Paternity Analysis

Kinship and Paternity Analysis effective 07/01/24 – current

ANDE Rapid DNA

ANDE Rapid DNA effective 07/24/24 – current

FlexPlex Ladder, PE, and Size Standard

FlexPlex Ladder, PE, and SS effective 01/10/22 – current

Appendix/References

Appendix

Appendix effective 06/20/16 – current

References

References effective 06/20/16 – current