A production system to generate reference genetic profiles from buccal swab cells on FTA^® cards

Abstract 

To generate the large quantity of genetic profiles that continuously feeds the French Reference Sample Database (F.N.A.E.G.), a secure and robust process is required. A complete automated production chain has been developed by Hamilton Robotics and the French Police Scientifique in Lyon to produce genetic profiles from buccal swab cells on FTA^® cards. The activities have been divided between Pre- and Post-PCR. The samples on FTA^® cards are punched directly into PCR plates. The plates are then transferred onto the Hamilton Microlab^® STAR liquid handling instruments. Air displacement pipetting coupled with Hamilton's CO-RE Technology allows a highly secure and contamination free pipetting for FTA^® wash and STR^® Identifiler^® PCR reaction set-up. Plates are sealed and transferred to the Post-PCR system for pooling into 384 format and denaturation. Throughout the process steps a complete sample tracking is performed and sample information is transferred to the LIMS system. This poster describes in detail this production system with an actual throughput of 40,000samples/month, which is in production since 2006.

Keywords: Automation, Forensics, Reference, Database, Genotyping, Robotics, FTA, Casework, High-throughput