Improved resolution of mixed STR profiles using a fully automated differential cell lysis/DNA extraction method.

Sexual assault evidence often contains sperm cells, which are typically separated from nonsperm cells using manual differential lysis procedures. The goal of this study was to evaluate the automated QIAGEN QIAcube for this purpose and to compare it to manual QIAGEN and manual organic differential methods using DNA yields STR profile data for assessment. DNA yields were determined by qPCR, followed by multiplex STR amplification, CE analysis, and mixture interpretation.