Forensic labs today face a spectrum of challenges, from low-template DNA to complex mixtures and inhibited samples. Promega’s latest PowerPlex® 18E and VersaPlex® 31P Systems tackle these issues head-on, developed to make casework analysis faster and clearer. For analysts who need reliable answers and supervisors aiming to streamline their workflows, these tools introduce meaningful advancements that promise to lighten the load on busy forensic teams.

PowerPlex® 18E System: European Standards, Elevated

Promega’s PowerPlex® 18E System brings groundbreaking precision tailored for European forensic standards. Developed specifically to handle the complexities of modern European casework, this 8-color multiplex system supports everything from trace evidence to challenging degraded or inhibited samples, amplifying all 12 European Standard Set (ESS) loci alongside additional markers to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Highlights:

• 12 ESS loci plus added markers D2S1338, D16S539, D19S433, and SE33
• Two biological sex-typing loci and two quality indicators to verify sample integrity
• All loci are under 400 bp
• Full profiles down to 62.5 pg, with over 95% profiles at 31.25 pg

Jonelle Thompson, Global Validation Services Manager at Promega, shares, “For labs working with low-template DNA or samples with potential degradation, PowerPlex® 18E System is a game-changer. We’ve seen full profiles from amounts as low as 62.5 picograms.”

PowerPlex® 18E System is prepared for the curveballs of forensic analysis. Labs can trust this system for sensitivity across a range of materials. A recent study found significantly higher allele call recovery rate with PowerPlex® 18E System with skin flake samples that are often of low quality and quantity, (PID fall 2024). The PowerPlex® 18E System can detect over 90% of the minor contributor at a 9:1 and 80% at 19:1 mixture ratios.

VersaPlex® 31P system: Power in Every Profile

The VersaPlex® 31P System introduces expanded discriminatory power that goes beyond standard STR systems. By including 20 CODIS core loci plus six new autosomal loci, the 8 color VersaPlex® 31P System is well-suited for casework that demands detailed genetic profiling and delivers precision even when handling compromised DNA. Results from the kit demonstrated an increased number of peaks called from mock casework samples compared to a 6-dye kit.

Highlights:

• 31 loci multiplex with 20 CODIS core loci plus six additional markers for greater discriminatory power, 16 loci are less than 250 bp
• High concordance rate of 99.99 % with the NIST dataset, ensuring reliable results
• Adaptability with samples affected by degradation and inhibitors like EDTA, hematin, and humic acid

Because the kit is an 8-color kit, with two extra dye channels, its smaller amplicons allow the kit to recover more information from samples that are inhibited or are degraded. The system’s smaller amplicon sizes allow analysts to extract detailed profiles even from degraded DNA, a feature especially valuable for cold case units seeking fresh leads.

Enhanced Workflow and Casework Consistency for Forensic Labs

Promega’s new systems aim to solve common but critical challenges in forensic workflows. Here’s how they support the daily demands of forensic professionals:

• Reliability for Real Casework: Both the PowerPlex® 18E System and VersaPlex® 31P System provide sensitivity across difficult samples, whether handling bone and tissue or low-quantity samples collected from trace evidence.
• Resilience with Inhibitors and Degraded DNA: The PowerPlex® 18E System offers offers robust profiling even in challenging samples, maintaining a high allele call rate in the presence of contaminants and inhibitors.
• Streamlined Process for Analysts and Supervisors: Compatible with Promega’s Spectrum CE and Spectrum Compact CE Systems, both the PowerPlex® 18E and VersaPlex® 31P Systems streamline analysis across varying case demands. By incorporating intuitive software and quality indicators, analysts can quickly assess sample conditions and move forward efficiently with confidence in their results.

For forensic analysts and lab managers alike, these systems represent an ideal solution to the technical hurdles encountered daily. With both systems showing impressive performance in validation studies, labs are empowered to elevate their operations and pursue complex DNA profiling with advanced, tailored tools.

These new Promega chemistries exemplify the commitment to equipping forensic labs not just with advanced technology, but with systems that genuinely enhance the capacity of teams to deliver meaningful results.