Abstract
Forensic genetics is extremely useful for the resolution of criminal cases, identification of missing persons and in paternity/kinship testing. Each and every laboratory that works in the forensic genetics area has developed its own working method independently, however, generally in accordance with international guidelines. More than thirty institutional, public and private forensic laboratories that deal with the identification/paternity testing through DNA in Italy have been surveyed, but to this day, only five public laboratories (four of the police and one of a university hospital) and two private ones are accredited. There are, however, many other laboratories that perform occasional forensic genetics activities that have not been surveyed. The need to achieve the ISO 17025:2005 accreditation may represent for these laboratories an excellent opportunity to improve their activities. Although the DNA analysis for forensic investigation is used in Italy since the beginning of the technique, the quality of the results has been called into question more than once, as it appears by many court cases in which the results of genetic tests have been subject to strong criticisms. Obviously, the ISO 17025:2005 is not sufficient to guarantee the quality of the results. It is essential to show the laboratory working method to the scientific community in order to obtain reliable and robust analytical results that can be used in court to accuse/exonerate individuals accused of a crime or to assign a true biological father to a child. Here, we show a part of the workflow validation process of the internal method used in the Forensic Genetic Service (FGS) of the Diagnostic Genetics Unit (DG) of the Careggi University Hospital. This article outlines some relevant aspects of the methods adopted to ensure robustness, reliability and reproducibility of genetic profiles used for forensic identification.
References
Council Resolution of 25 June 2001 on the exchange of DNA analysis results. Off J Eur Union C187/3, 3 July 2009
Walsch C (2009) Europeanization and democracy: negotiating the prüm treaty and the schengen III agreement. Croat Polit Sci Rev 45(5):81–90. Retrieved 29 Aug 2010
Legge 30 giugno (2009) n. 85 http://www.governo.it/biotecnologie/documenti/LEGGE_ 30_giugno _2009_n_85.pdf. Accessed 10 Apr 2014
Senato della Repubblica (2014) Ordine del Giorno n. G100 al DDL n. 586. Torri, Casson http://www.senato.it/japp/bgt/showdoc/frame.jsp?tipodoc=Emend&leg=16&id=424803&idoggetto=532231. Accessed 10 Apr 2014
DNA-database management review and recommendations ENFSI DNA Working Group (2012) http://www.enfsi.eu/sites/default/files/documents/enfsi_document_on_dna-database_management_2012_0.pdf. Accessed 15 Oct 2013
Acts adopted under title VI of the EU Treaty. Council framework decision 2009/905/JHA of 30 November 2009, on accreditation of forensic science providers carrying out laboratory activities. Off J Eur Union 9 Dec 2009, L322/14
Pascali VL, Lago G, Dobosz M (2003) The dark side of the UK National DNA database. Lancet 362(9386):834
Lynch M (2003) God’s signature: DNA profiling, the new gold standard in forensic science. Endeavour 27(2):93–97
Cole SA (2013) A surfeit of science: the “CSI effect” and the media appropriation of the public understanding of science. Public Underst Sci. doi:10.1177/0963662513481294
Supreme Court of Cassation (2013) Motivations http://themurderofmeredithkercher.com/ Supreme_Court_of_Cassation_2013_Motivations. Accessed 10 Apr 2014
Garlasco murder, defense Alberto Stasi, “no seizure bicycle” (2013) http://pongpitfirst.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/garlasco-murder-defense-alberto-stasi-no-seizure-bicycle/. Accessed 10 Apr 2014
ACCREDIA http://www.ACCREDIA.it/context.jsp?ID_LINK=76&area=6. Accessed 10 Apr 2014
ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) (2002) Guidelines for forensic science laboratories. ILAC-G19, ILAC Secretariat, Silverwater
CEN/TC 419, European Committee for Standardization (CEN) (2012) http://standards.cen.eu/dyn/www/f?p=204:7:0::::FSP_ORG_ID:956162&cs=12B1BE75D1F5D53FABCE6B0479DD6A8BB. Accessed 10 Apr 2014
Hovind H, Magnusson B, Krysel M, Land U, Mäkinen I (2011) Internal quality control. Handbook for chemical laboratories. Nord Test Report TR 569, 4th edn. Nordic Innovation, Norway
http://www.poliziadistato.it/. Accessed 23 Jan 2014
http://www.carabinieri.it/Internet/. Accessed 23 Jan 2014
http://www.euroforgen.eu/. Accessed 23 Jan 2014
http://www.sigu.net/. Accessed 23 Jan 2014
Bar W, Brinkmann B, Lincoln P, Mayr WR, Rossi U (1994) DNA recommendations-1994 report concerning further recommendations of the DNA Commission of the ISFH regarding PCR-based polymorphisms in STR (short tandem repeat) systems. Int J Leg Med 107:159–160
Coble MD, Kline MC, Butler JM (2011) Metrology needs and NIST resources for the forensic DNA community. Accred Qual Assur 16:293–297
Council Resolution of 25 June 2001 on the exchange of DNA analysis results (2001/C 187/01) http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2001:187:0001:0004:EN:PDF. Accessed 10 Apr 2014
Council of the European Union (2009) Exchange of DNA analysis results - Proposal for amending the European Standard Set of Loci (ESS) http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&t=PDF&gc=true&sc=false&f=ST%2015870%202009%20INIT. Accessed 15 Oct 2013
Budowle B, Moretti TR, Niezgoda SJ, Brown BL (1998) CODIS and PCR-based short tandem repeat loci: law enforcement tools. Proceedings of the second European symposium on human identification. Promega Corporation, Madison, pp 73–88
STRbase http://www.cstl.nist.gov/biotech/strbase/. Accessed 15 Oct 2013
Schneider PM, Fimmers R, Keil W, Molsberger G, Patzelt D, Pflug W, Rothämel T, Schmitter H, Schneider H, Brinkmann B (2009) The German stain commission: recommendations for the interpretation of mixed stains. Int J Leg Med 123:1–5
Gill P, Gusmão L, Haned H, Mayr WR, Morling N, Parson W, Prieto L, Prinz M, Schneider H, Schneider PM, Weir BS (2012) DNA commission of the international society of forensic genetics: recommendations on the evaluation of STR typing results that may include drop-out and/or drop-in using probabilistic methods. Forensic Sci Int Genet 6:679–688
Kwok S, Higuchi R (1989) Avoiding false positives with PCR (erratum Nature [1989] 339: 490). Nature 339:237–238
http://www.qiagen.com. Accessed 21 Jan 2014
Pinchi V, Focardi M, Martinelli D, Norelli GA, Carboni I, Gozzini A, Romolini C, Torricelli F, Ricci U (2013) DNA extraction method from teeth using QIAcube. Forensic Sci Int: Genet Suppl Ser 4(1):e276–e277
http://www.thermoscientific.com/ Accessed 21 Jan 2014
http://www.lifetechnologies.com/ Accessed 21 Jan 2014
http://ita.promega.com/ Accessed 21 Jan 2014
Hill CR, Butler JM, Vallone PM (2009) A 26plex autosomal STR assay to aid human identity testing. J Forensic Sci 54(5):100
Caragine T, Mikulasovich R, Tamariz J, Bajda E, Sebestyen J, Baum H, Prinz M (2009) Validation of testing and interpretation protocols for low template DNA samples using AmpFlSTR identifiler. Croat Med J 50:250–267
Ansell R (2013) Internal quality control in forensic DNA analysis. Accred Qual Assur 18(4):279–289
Quality assurance programme for DNA laboratories (2010) ENFSI DNA Working Group, 001 http://www.enfsi.eu/sites/default/files/documents/dna_contamination_prevention_guidelines_for_the_file_contamantion_prevention_final_-_v2010_0.pdf. Accessed 10 Apr 2014
‘DNA bungle’ haunts German police (2009). BBC new http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7966641.stm. Accessed 15 Oct 2013
Gill P, Whitaker J, Flaxman C, Brown N, Buckleton J (2000) An investigation of the rigor of interpretation rules for STRs derived from <100 pg of DNA. Forensic Sci Int 112:17–40
Meakin G, Jamieson A (2013) DNA transfer: review and implications for casework. Forensic Sci Int Genet 7(4):434–443
Lanzi L, Ricci U (2013) DNADB: a tool to archive DNA profiles. Rivista Italiana Medicina Legale IV;1698-1705 (in Italian)
General Authorisation for the Processing of Genetic Data - 24 June 2011 http://www.gpdp.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/1822650. Accessed 10 Apr 2014
Morling N, Allen R, Carracedo A, Geada H, Guidet F, Hallenberg C, Martin W, Mayr WR, Olaisen B, Pascali V, Schneider PM (2003) Paternity testing commission of the international society of forensic genetics: recommendations on genetic investigations in paternity cases. Paternity testing commission, international society of forensic genetics. Int J Legal Med 117:51–61
http://www.gednap.org/. Accessed 23 Jan 2014
http://www.gefi-isfg.org/. Accessed 23 Jan 2014
ISO/IEC 17025 (2005) General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Organization for Standardization (ISO), Geneva
http://www.skl.polisen.se/en/English/. Accessed 10 Apr 2014
https://www.forensicinstitute.nl/about_nfi/news/index.aspx?q=o&p5=nieuwsbericht%7Cpersbericht&p7=2008-01-01&select=5. Accessed 10 Apr 2014
Injustice anywhere http://www.injusticeinperugia.org/. Accessed 15 Oct 2013
Via Poma, i periti: “Sul corpetto di Simonetta tracce Dna di 3 uomini. Niente morso sul seno” http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2012/03/21/news/via_poma_la_super_perizia_potrebbe_scagionare_busco-31964917/. Accessed 15 Oct 2013 (in Italian)
Ricci U (2008) Limiti e aspettative della genetica forense. In: Aa.Vv., Scienza e processo penale. Nuove frontiere e vecchi pregiudizi, Giuffrè Milano XIV;504:247–262 (in Italian)
Thompson WC (2009) Painting the target around the matching profile: the Texas sharpshooter fallacy in forensic DNA interpretation. Law, Probab Risk 8:257–276
Tom Jackman (2005) Paternity Suit Raises Doubts About DNA Tests, Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-yn/content/article/2005/08/20/AR2005082000998.html Accessed 10 Apr 2014
Acknowledgments
The author is grateful to the laboratory staff who shared the experience of accreditation and to Chiara Pescucci, Massimo Innocenti, Marco Meloni for their help in writing this article.
Conflict of interest
The author reports no conflicts of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ricci, U. Establishment of an ISO 17025:2005 accredited forensic genetics laboratory in Italy. Accred Qual Assur 19, 289–299 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-014-1062-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-014-1062-7