Comparison of telogen hair analyses: genRES® MPX-2SP kit versus genRES® MPX-SP1 and genRES® MPX-SP2 kits

STR investigations of telogen hair are invariably difficult due to the small amounts of nuclear DNA and its degradation products. However, in recent years there has been a considerable improvement. This study examined the suitability of a new STR kit with shortened amplicons for the investigation of hair in routine casework. This kit allows the simultaneous amplification of the eight STR-loci D3S1358, VWA, FGA, TH01, SE33, D8S1179, D18S51, and D21S11, and the sex-determining amelogenin system. It was tested against the genRES® MPX-SP1 and genRES® MPX-SP2 kits. The sensitivity of the new genRES® MPX-2SP kit was demonstrated to be inferior to that of the genRES® MPX-SP1, but almost equal to that of the genRES® MPX-SP2 kit.