Developmental validation of STRmix™, expert software for the interpretation of forensic DNA profiles

Jo-Anne Bright; Duncan Taylor; Catherine McGovern; Stuart Cooper; Laura Russell; Damien Abarno; John Buckleton

doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2016.05.007

Developmental validation of STRmix™, expert software for the interpretation of forensic DNA profiles

Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2016 Jul:23:226-239. doi: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2016.05.007. Epub 2016 May 12.

Authors

Jo-Anne Bright¹, Duncan Taylor², Catherine McGovern³, Stuart Cooper³, Laura Russell³, Damien Abarno⁴, John Buckleton³

Affiliations

¹ ESR, Private Bag 92021, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. Electronic address: jodashanne@gmail.com.
² Forensic Science South Australia, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
³ ESR, Private Bag 92021, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
⁴ Forensic Science South Australia, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.

PMID: 27235797
DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2016.05.007

Abstract

In 2015 the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods published the SWGDAM Guidelines for the Validation of Probabilistic Genotyping Systems [1]. STRmix™ is probabilistic genotyping software that employs a continuous model of DNA profile interpretation. This paper describes the developmental validation activities of STRmix™ following the SWGDAM guidelines. It addresses the underlying scientific principles, and the performance of the models with respect to sensitivity, specificity and precision and results of interpretation of casework type samples. This work demonstrates that STRmix™ is suitable for its intended use for the interpretation of single source and mixed DNA profiles.

Keywords: Continuous method; DNA mixtures; Probabilistic genotyping; STRmix; Validation.

Publication types

Validation Study

MeSH terms

DNA Fingerprinting*
Genotype*
Humans
Likelihood Functions
Microsatellite Repeats*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sensitivity and Specificity
Software*