| Sample Type |
Success Rate |
Notes |
Estimated TAT |
| Buccal Swab |
98% |
Preferred Sample |
10 days |
| Fresh blood including cord blood |
98% |
1 purple-topped vacuatiner must be overnited same day as collection or refrigerated if held |
10 days |
| Blood Stain/FTA Collection Card |
98% |
Preferred for DNA Profiles |
10 days |
| Fresh Semen* |
95% |
Fresh=stored frozen, or collected within 5 days and refrigerated |
10 days |
| Hair with roots intact |
95% |
Must be plucked, 10 minimum, 15+ preferred |
10-12 days |
| Amniotic Cells |
95% |
13-20 weeks gestation, collect 3-8 ml amniotic fluid in 15 ml sterile plstic tube, NEVER refrigerate, overnight sample |
10 days |
| CVS |
95% |
8-12 weeks gestation, collect biopsy and send to cell culturing lab. Once cultured, overnight two T25 confluent flasks, NEVER refrigerate. 1/2 cultured cells OK if time is an issue. |
10 days |
| Autopsy Blood |
95% |
Collected at or soon after time of death, 1 purple-topped vacuatiner must be sent in same condition it was stored (frozen, refrigerated, etc.) |
10 days |
| Products of Conception (abortus) |
95%** |
Must have reference sample from mother, use 50 ml sterile plastic tube. Tissue from an older abortus shall be selected by the physician and an approximate 2 cm2 portion placed into the tube. |
3-8 weeks |
| Human Tissue |
95%** |
2cm 2 piece of tissue in 50 ml sterile plastic tube. Muscle tissue is preferred, Calf muscle tissue (from a very fresh body); Deep thigh muscle tissue (from a less than fresh body); Brain Cortex (useful regardless of post-mortem age) |
3-8 weeks |
| Semen stains* on clothing or vaginal swab |
75% |
Success rate depends on size of stain, fabric, and exposure conditions |
3-8 weeks |
| Bloodstain on clothing |
75% |
Success rate depends on size of stain, fabric, and exposure conditions |
3-8 weeks |
| Condoms* |
75% |
must be stored as semen above or success rate drops |
3-8 weeks |
| Chewing Gum |
75% |
Sugary gum has a lower success rate |
3-8 weeks |
| Used Q-top |
75% |
|
3-8 weeks |
| Bone or Teeth |
75% |
Bone, several grams in weight (tibia pref) or 3-4 molars, if badly charred request multiple samples |
3-8 weeks |
| Toothbrush |
65% |
|
3-8 weeks |
| Hair from an Electric Razor |
65% |
|
3-8 weeks |
| Cigarette Butts |
60% |
|
3-8 weeks |
| Envelope Flaps & Stamps |
60% |
Older samples are less likely to work, some are sealed with water or glue |
3-8 weeks |
| Soda Can |
50% |
|
3-8 weeks |
| Urine |
50% |
40mL sample; fresh or stored refrigerated for less than 5 days, older samples and unrefrigerated samples have less than 10% success rate. |
3-8 weeks |
| Dried Umbilical Cord |
50% |
Must have reference sample from mother |
3-8 weeks |
| Used Kleenex |
50% |
Higher success rate if blood is present |
3-8 weeks |
| Paraffin embedded or embalmed tissue |
15% |
|
3-8 weeks |
| Coagulated Blood |
15% |
|
3-8 weeks |
| Cremated Remains |
0% |
|
3-8 weeks |
Non-Standard DNA Sample Preference Sheet
