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If you are a representative of an authorized laboratory conducting forensic DNA testing and would like to gain access to the DNA Exclusion Matching Tool, please click here to register new account.ICMP DNA Exclusion Matching
With the widespread use of forensic DNA to support criminal investigations and as technology becomes increasingly sensitive, the need for DNA Exclusion Databases (EDB) is critical. The purpose of EDBs is to enable the identification of DNA profiles generated where the source DNA is as a consequence of inadvertent contamination. Contamination can occur at any part of the forensic DNA supply chain, including in reagents and consumables used by forensic DNA laboratories, and when undetected in casework can mislead investigations. The ENFSI DNA Working Group, with the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), has coordinated the establishment of two systems in support of contamination investigations:- a searchable Manufacturers' DNA EDB and
- an Unsourced Contaminant DNA Database containing profiles seen on multiple occasions across different laboratories, often in process controls, where the source is unknown, yet known not to be crime related.
The Manufacturers' Exclusion Database (MED) will be populated with DNA profiles provided by manufacturers involved in relevant supply chains, subject to specific agreements between them and ICMP as the data custodian. Companies may permit various levels of information exchange in the event that a match is detected. End Users will be notified in the event of a match, and may at the option of database profile contributors also receive additional information relating to the match, including the entire profile that was matched, the laboratory or manufacturer that uploaded the profile to the database, and contact information for further quality assurance exchange.
Manufacturer's interested in participating in the MED may inquire here
Unsourced Contaminant Exclusion Database
The Unsourced Contaminant Exclusion Database (UCED) will be populated by DNA profiles provided by forensic DNA laboratories when the profiles are known to be contaminants and considered to originate from contaminants present in reagents or supplies that may also be encountered in other forensic laboratories. An example of a DNA profile appropriate for the Unsourced Contaminant Database would be a profile that is repeatedly observed in negative controls, and which cannot be accounted for by internal staff elimination databases, or other investigations or circumstances that rule out the accidental introduction of the contaminant by the laboratory during testing.
Registered and approved representatives of forensic DNA laboratories can search the DNA EDBs against their own questioned DNA profiles to investigate whether those profiles may originate from contamination in the reagent or consumable supply chain. Registration requests will be evaluated by the ENFSI EDB Oversight Committee, usually within a few days.
To inquire about submission of unsourced contaminant profiles for inclusion in the UCED, click here.
The matching rules used for the EDB matching application are as follows:
- In order to query the EDB the profile being submitted for matching must contain a minimum of 6 full STR loci and preferably amelogenin, although the inclusion of amelogenin is not mandatory, as matches will only be reported when there is allelic consistency in 6 or more full STR loci (not including amelogenin);
- A mismatch (in one or both alleles) at one additional locus will be allowed;
- 'Wildcard'' alleles, which represent any allele, will not be considered as a mismatch but as a potential match. However, matches at loci where one or both profiles have a wildcard allele will not be counted toward the minimum of 6 matching loci. Wildcards can take the form of the following: ‘0' or '?' or ‘o' or ‘f' or ‘r' or ‘x' or ‘na' or ‘nr' or ‘un' to accommodate the different wildcard identifiers used by forensic laboratories.