Volume-reduction Solid Phase Extraction on a Plastic Microfluidic Device for Forensic Sample Analysis

Interfacing large volume samples (0.5 – 3 mL) with microfluidic devices is a significant obstacle for the processing of numerous forms of forensic casework biological evidence. This includes biological fluids collected from surfaces, clothing and compromised samples e.g., those mixed with soil. In addition, some samples are deliberately diluted, reducing the effect of inhibitors on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequent short tandem repeat (STR) analysis for human identification [1]. The result, therefore, is a ‘low template’ sample, requiring purification and concentration of DNA to allow for successful STR PCR forensic analysis of biological evidence.