Forensic organizations such as the Technical Working Group on
DNA Analysis Methods (TWGDAM) and the American Society of
Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) have endorsed guidelines
designed to minimize the possibility of contamination during PCR
analysis (1,2). Some individuals in the forensic and legal communities
favor even more rigorous safeguards. Many forensic laboratories
currently employ PCR methods, and new PCR systems are
being introduced with the advent of STR analysis. With increasing
numbers of DNA tests available and the legal scrutiny surrounding
PCR typing, it is necessary to systematically address the issue of
PCR contamination.