Developmental validation of the STRscan-17LC kit: a 6 Dye STR kit enhanced stability and ability to detect degraded samples

Genotyping of short tandem repeat (STR) markers is the basic method of forensic science. Enhanced technologies are needed to meet the requirements of databasing and casework samples. The STRscan-17LC kit is a 6 Dye STR kit which amplifies 16 STR loci: D3S1358, TPOX, D16S539, vWA, D2S1338, CSF1PO, D19S433, D7S820, FGA, D8S1179, D5S818, D13S317, D18S51, TH01, D12S391, and D21S11 and the sex-determinant locus amelogenin. This kit is designed for better tolerance to PCR inhibitors and analysis of mildly degraded samples with all fragments smaller than 330 bases. In this study, the STRscan-17LC kit is validated according to the SWGDAM (Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods) guidelines, including PCR-based studies, sensitivity, precision and accuracy, inhibitors, species specificity, DNA mixture studies, population, and concordance studies. The validation results suggest that the STRscan-17LC kit is a useful tool for forensic application.