How the Investigator Casework GO! Kit Provides Sensitive, Fast and Robust Direct Amplification of Low Copy Number Samples

Abstract Many volume crime samples (e.g., from burglaries or vehicle-related crimes) go untested because there is insufficient funding or time available for sample preparation. Furthermore, conventional DNA isolation from the touch and low copy number samples from these types of crime scene can result in significant loss of DNA, meaning lower success rates and discouraging investment in these techniques. Similarly, in many countries, including the U.S., significant numbers of sexual assault case samples lie in storage for months or even years, because the cost, effort and complexity of recovering PCR-ready DNA is too great. The newly developed Investigator Casework GO! Kit from QIAGEN is used for pretreatment of forensic samples for a direct amplification approach. The kit yields a lysate that is directly compatible with quantification and STR products such as the Investigator Quantiplex® Pro and Quantiplex Pro RGQ Kits or the Investigator 24plex QS, ESSplex SE QS or IDplex Plus Kits. No DNA isolation is required. Direct amplification of casework samples enables an accelerated workflow with rapid processing of swabs, including cuttings of sexual assault swabs, and other materials. The Investigator Casework GO! Kit fully supports successful direct amplification workflows, even with touch and other low copy number samples. Furthermore, in sexual assault screening analysis, the Investigator Casework GO! workflow can inform sample processing decisions with male-quantification and auto:Y ratio insights.