Euroforgen-NoE collaborative exercise on LRmix to demonstrate standardization of the interpretation of complex DNA profiles

L Prieto; H Haned; A Mosquera; M Crespillo; M Alemañ; M Aler; F Alvarez; C Baeza-Richer; A Dominguez; C Doutremepuich; M J Farfán; Martin Fenger-Grøn; J M García-Ganivet; E González-Moya; L Hombreiro; M V Lareu; B Martínez-Jarreta; S Merigioli; P Milans Del Bosch; N Morling; M Muñoz-Nieto; E Ortega-González; S Pedrosa; R Pérez; C Solís; I Yurrebaso; P Gill

doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2013.10.011

Euroforgen-NoE collaborative exercise on LRmix to demonstrate standardization of the interpretation of complex DNA profiles

L Prieto, H Haned, A Mosquera, M Crespillo, M Alemañ, M Aler, F Alvarez, C Baeza-Richer, A Dominguez, C Doutremepuich, M J Farfán, Martin Fenger-Grøn, J M García-Ganivet, E González-Moya, L Hombreiro, M V Lareu, B Martínez-Jarreta, S Merigioli, P Milans Del Bosch, N MorlingM Muñoz-Nieto, E Ortega-González, S Pedrosa, R Pérez, C Solís, I Yurrebaso, P Gill

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Abstract

There has been very little work published on the variation of reporting practices of mixtures between laboratories, but it has been previously demonstrated that there is little consistency. This is because there is no current uniformity of practice, so different laboratories will operate using different rules. The interpretation of mixtures is not solely a matter of using some software to provide 'an answer'. An assessment of a case will usually begin with a consideration of the circumstances of a crime. Assumptions made about the numbers of contributors follow from an examination of the electropherogram(s) - and these may differ between the prosecution and the defence hypotheses. There may be a necessity to evaluate several sets of hypotheses for any given case if the circumstances are uncertain. Once the hypotheses are formulated, the mathematical analysis is complex and can only be accomplished by the use of specialist software. In order to obtain meaningful results, it is essential that scientists are trained, not only in the use of the software, but also in the methodology to understand the likelihood ratio concept that is used. The Euroforgen-NoE initiative has developed a training course that utilizes the LRmix program to carry out the calculations. This software encompasses the recommendations of the ISFG DNA commissions on mixture interpretation and is able to interpret samples that may come from two or more contributors and may also be partial profiles. Recently, eighteen different laboratories were trained in the methodology. Afterwards they were asked to independently analyze two different cases with partial mixture DNA evidence and to write a statement court-report. We show that by introducing a structured training programme, it is possible to demonstrate, for the first time, that a high degree of standardization, leading to uniformity of results can be achieved by participating laboratories.

Original language	English
Journal	Forensic science international. Genetics
Volume	9
Pages (from-to)	47-54
Number of pages	8
ISSN	1872-4973
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2013.10.011
Publication status	Published - Mar 2014

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10.1016/j.fsigen.2013.10.011

Euroforgen-NoE collaborative exercise on LRmix to demonstrate

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Prieto, L., Haned, H., Mosquera, A., Crespillo, M., Alemañ, M., Aler, M., Alvarez, F., Baeza-Richer, C., Dominguez, A., Doutremepuich, C., Farfán, M. J., Fenger-Grøn, M., García-Ganivet, J. M., González-Moya, E., Hombreiro, L., Lareu, M. V., Martínez-Jarreta, B., Merigioli, S., Milans Del Bosch, P., ... Gill, P. (2014). Euroforgen-NoE collaborative exercise on LRmix to demonstrate standardization of the interpretation of complex DNA profiles. Forensic science international. Genetics, 9, 47-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2013.10.011

Prieto, L, Haned, H, Mosquera, A, Crespillo, M, Alemañ, M, Aler, M, Alvarez, F, Baeza-Richer, C, Dominguez, A, Doutremepuich, C, Farfán, MJ, Fenger-Grøn, M, García-Ganivet, JM, González-Moya, E, Hombreiro, L, Lareu, MV, Martínez-Jarreta, B, Merigioli, S, Milans Del Bosch, P, Morling, N, Muñoz-Nieto, M, Ortega-González, E, Pedrosa, S, Pérez, R, Solís, C, Yurrebaso, I & Gill, P 2014, 'Euroforgen-NoE collaborative exercise on LRmix to demonstrate standardization of the interpretation of complex DNA profiles', Forensic science international. Genetics, vol. 9, pp. 47-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2013.10.011

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title = "Euroforgen-NoE collaborative exercise on LRmix to demonstrate standardization of the interpretation of complex DNA profiles",

abstract = "There has been very little work published on the variation of reporting practices of mixtures between laboratories, but it has been previously demonstrated that there is little consistency. This is because there is no current uniformity of practice, so different laboratories will operate using different rules. The interpretation of mixtures is not solely a matter of using some software to provide 'an answer'. An assessment of a case will usually begin with a consideration of the circumstances of a crime. Assumptions made about the numbers of contributors follow from an examination of the electropherogram(s) - and these may differ between the prosecution and the defence hypotheses. There may be a necessity to evaluate several sets of hypotheses for any given case if the circumstances are uncertain. Once the hypotheses are formulated, the mathematical analysis is complex and can only be accomplished by the use of specialist software. In order to obtain meaningful results, it is essential that scientists are trained, not only in the use of the software, but also in the methodology to understand the likelihood ratio concept that is used. The Euroforgen-NoE initiative has developed a training course that utilizes the LRmix program to carry out the calculations. This software encompasses the recommendations of the ISFG DNA commissions on mixture interpretation and is able to interpret samples that may come from two or more contributors and may also be partial profiles. Recently, eighteen different laboratories were trained in the methodology. Afterwards they were asked to independently analyze two different cases with partial mixture DNA evidence and to write a statement court-report. We show that by introducing a structured training programme, it is possible to demonstrate, for the first time, that a high degree of standardization, leading to uniformity of results can be achieved by participating laboratories.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.fsigen.2013.10.011",

language = "English",

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pages = "47--54",

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T1 - Euroforgen-NoE collaborative exercise on LRmix to demonstrate standardization of the interpretation of complex DNA profiles

AU - Prieto, L

AU - Haned, H

AU - Mosquera, A

AU - Crespillo, M

AU - Alemañ, M

AU - Aler, M

AU - Alvarez, F

AU - Baeza-Richer, C

AU - Dominguez, A

AU - Doutremepuich, C

AU - Farfán, M J

AU - Fenger-Grøn, Martin

AU - García-Ganivet, J M

AU - González-Moya, E

AU - Hombreiro, L

AU - Lareu, M V

AU - Martínez-Jarreta, B

AU - Merigioli, S

AU - Milans Del Bosch, P

AU - Morling, N

AU - Muñoz-Nieto, M

AU - Ortega-González, E

AU - Pedrosa, S

AU - Pérez, R

AU - Solís, C

AU - Yurrebaso, I

AU - Gill, P

PY - 2014/3

Y1 - 2014/3

N2 - There has been very little work published on the variation of reporting practices of mixtures between laboratories, but it has been previously demonstrated that there is little consistency. This is because there is no current uniformity of practice, so different laboratories will operate using different rules. The interpretation of mixtures is not solely a matter of using some software to provide 'an answer'. An assessment of a case will usually begin with a consideration of the circumstances of a crime. Assumptions made about the numbers of contributors follow from an examination of the electropherogram(s) - and these may differ between the prosecution and the defence hypotheses. There may be a necessity to evaluate several sets of hypotheses for any given case if the circumstances are uncertain. Once the hypotheses are formulated, the mathematical analysis is complex and can only be accomplished by the use of specialist software. In order to obtain meaningful results, it is essential that scientists are trained, not only in the use of the software, but also in the methodology to understand the likelihood ratio concept that is used. The Euroforgen-NoE initiative has developed a training course that utilizes the LRmix program to carry out the calculations. This software encompasses the recommendations of the ISFG DNA commissions on mixture interpretation and is able to interpret samples that may come from two or more contributors and may also be partial profiles. Recently, eighteen different laboratories were trained in the methodology. Afterwards they were asked to independently analyze two different cases with partial mixture DNA evidence and to write a statement court-report. We show that by introducing a structured training programme, it is possible to demonstrate, for the first time, that a high degree of standardization, leading to uniformity of results can be achieved by participating laboratories.

AB - There has been very little work published on the variation of reporting practices of mixtures between laboratories, but it has been previously demonstrated that there is little consistency. This is because there is no current uniformity of practice, so different laboratories will operate using different rules. The interpretation of mixtures is not solely a matter of using some software to provide 'an answer'. An assessment of a case will usually begin with a consideration of the circumstances of a crime. Assumptions made about the numbers of contributors follow from an examination of the electropherogram(s) - and these may differ between the prosecution and the defence hypotheses. There may be a necessity to evaluate several sets of hypotheses for any given case if the circumstances are uncertain. Once the hypotheses are formulated, the mathematical analysis is complex and can only be accomplished by the use of specialist software. In order to obtain meaningful results, it is essential that scientists are trained, not only in the use of the software, but also in the methodology to understand the likelihood ratio concept that is used. The Euroforgen-NoE initiative has developed a training course that utilizes the LRmix program to carry out the calculations. This software encompasses the recommendations of the ISFG DNA commissions on mixture interpretation and is able to interpret samples that may come from two or more contributors and may also be partial profiles. Recently, eighteen different laboratories were trained in the methodology. Afterwards they were asked to independently analyze two different cases with partial mixture DNA evidence and to write a statement court-report. We show that by introducing a structured training programme, it is possible to demonstrate, for the first time, that a high degree of standardization, leading to uniformity of results can be achieved by participating laboratories.

U2 - 10.1016/j.fsigen.2013.10.011

DO - 10.1016/j.fsigen.2013.10.011

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24528579

SN - 1872-4973

VL - 9

SP - 47

EP - 54

JO - Forensic Science International: Genetics

JF - Forensic Science International: Genetics

ER -

Euroforgen-NoE collaborative exercise on LRmix to demonstrate standardization of the interpretation of complex DNA profiles

Abstract

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