Reference no: EM133610763

Forensic analysts use this SRM when generating a genetic fingerprint, also called a DNA profile, of a suspect. If blood or other biological evidence is found at a crime scene, the analyst extracts DNA from the proof and then processes it to generate the profile. For this to work correctly, the analyst needs to know how much DNA is in the extract before they process it. "Put in too little, and you might end up with an incomplete DNA profile," said Erica Romsos, the research scientist at NIST who managed the production of this standard. "Put in too much, and you can blow out the signal, making the results difficult to interpret." The three vials in this standard contain precisely measured quantities of human DNA, which forensic analysts use to calibrate their instruments when estimating how much DNA they extracted from the evidence. This helps ensure they process the right amount of DNA when generating the profile. In the new version of this standard, the quantity of DNA in each of the vials was measured using an advanced technique called digital PCR. This gives a more precise measurement than was possible in the prior version and allows for more accurate