Development of a dual test procedure for DNA typing and methamphetamine detection using a trace amount of stimulant-containing blood

• We developed a new test procedure for DNA typing and methamphetamine detection involving partial lysis of a stimulant-containing blood sample in the syringe after injecting the drug.
• This method divides a stimulant-containing blood sample into components derived from a blood corpuscle and liquid.
• It was simple and could be completed in approximately 2 h.

Investigation of drug-related crimes, such as violation of the Stimulant Drug Control Law, requires identifying the used drug (mainly stimulant drugs, methamphetamine hydrochloride) from a drug solution and the DNA type of the drug user from a trace of blood left in the syringe used to inject the drug. In current standard test procedures, DNA typing and methamphetamine detection are performed as independent tests that use two separate portions of a precious sample. The sample can be entirely used up by either analysis. Therefore, we developed a new procedure involving partial lysis of a stimulant-containing blood sample followed by separation of the lysate into a precipitate for DNA typing and a liquid-phase fraction for methamphetamine detection. The method enables these two tests to be run in parallel using a single portion of sample. Samples were prepared by adding methamphetamine hydrochloride water solution to blood. Samples were lysed with Proteinase K in PBS at 56 °C for 20 min, cooled at −20 °C after adding methanol, and then centrifuged at 15,000 rpm. Based on the biopolymer-precipitating ability of alcohol, the precipitate was used for DNA typing and the liquid-phase fraction for methamphetamine detection. For DNA typing, the precipitate was dissolved and DNA was extracted, quantified, and subjected to STR analysis using the AmpFℓSTR® Identifiler® Plus PCR Amplification Kit. For methamphetamine detection, the liquid-phase fraction was evaporated with N2 gas after adding 20 μL acetic acid and passed through an extraction column; the substances captured in the column were eluted with a solvent, derivatized, and quantitatively detected using gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry. This method was simple and could be completed in approximately 2 h. Both DNA typing and methamphetamine detection were possible, which suggests that this method may be valuable for use in criminal investigations.

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