Attribution of DNA profiles to body fluid stains

Abstract Ultra-sensitive DNA profiling techniques, which now enable a profile to be obtained from a single cell, are greatly advantageous to the forensic community where biological material is often limited. However, it is not always possible to infer the cellular origin of any resulting profile. Here, we assess the likelihood of generating a DNA profile by the standard processing of visible stains that originates from extraneous cells on the substrate rather than the body fluid. Stain size and quality, substrate material and an individual's propensity to deposit DNA were all proven to be significant factors. It was demonstrated that an association between DNA profile and body fluid is not implicit, even where a positive presumptive test is obtained.