Abstract
Forensic Biology is a rapidly developing field, with new DNA extraction methods offering improved sensitivity and efficiency. A comparison of PrepFiler™ on the Tecan Fluent® 1080 and DNA Investigator on the EZ2 Connect Fx was undertaken for a range of challenging substrates, followed by a fabric evaluation extracted using PrepFiler™ on two different platforms. The results showed each chemistry had a particular affinity for certain samples, with higher DNA yields with PrepFiler™ for hematin, toilet paper, grass and sand, whilst DNA Investigator extracted higher yields for denim fabrics, tissues, fingerprint powder, oil and flour. Particular fabrics interfered with the ability of the Tecan Fluent® 1080 magnet to capture magnetic beads prior to liquid transfer, with improved outcomes on the AutoMate Express™. Overall, this study highlights the benefit of reviewing substrate-specific affinities for DNA extraction chemistries, aimed to improve the likelihood of obtaining a DNA profile and contributing to judicial investigations.