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Enhancing Sexual Assault Evidence Processing with New EZ2 DNA Investigator Sep&Prep Kit
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Dominic O’Neil, Director of Sample Tech Research, QIAGEN
Dominic O’Neil, Director of Sample Tech Research at QIAGEN, discovered his passion for molecular biology and genetics while studying at Northeastern University in Boston and contributing to the Human Genome Project at the MIT/Whitehead Center for Genome Research. When QIAGEN acquired Digene, he joined the former as an R&D scientist, focusing on clinical diagnostics for women’s health. Dominic became part of the company’s growing innovation journey.
After relocating to the QIAGEN global headquarters in Hilden, Germany, he took over the team responsible for developing DNA extraction kits. Today, Dominic leads a group of scientists and technicians dedicated to advancing solutions for human identification and microbiome applications, driving forward technologies that help laboratories process even the most difficult forensic samples.
He brings more than two decades of expertise in molecular biology and genetics to one of forensic science’s most pressing challenges: processing complex sexual assault samples. This inspired Dominic to lead the development of EZ2 DNA Investigator Sep&Prep Kit.
Improved evidence processing with Sep&Prep
Forensic scientists are constantly challenged by the complexity of sexual assault evidence samples that may contain limited sperm DNA and high levels of female carryover. Our latest solution addresses this head-on. By optimizing both recovery and separation in a fully automated workflow, EZ2 DNA Investigator Sep&Prep marks a transformative step in forensic sample preparation.
As the lead developer behind the new kit, O’Neil and his team have created a breakthrough tool to address limitations in conventional differential extraction methods.
Rethinking differential extraction
The biggest challenges for sexual assault samples are the recovery of enough sperm from swabs and separating enough of the victim’s DNA to enable generating a reliable profile of the suspect. Therefore, improving the efficiency of the wash steps to remove the victim’s DNA and finding the right method to efficiently do this while preserving sperm DNA was key to the successful development of the kit.
O’Neil’s team formulated a novel lysis buffer that effectively liberates sperm from cotton and flocked swabs without damaging them. The buffers and protocols enable stringent binding of sperm cells to paramagnetic beads compatible with EZ2 Connect Fx. This specificity allows for more rigorous washing steps that remove remaining cellular material and victim DNA.
The Sep&Prep workflow produced a sperm cell fraction with a 3-fold lower female contribution compared to the differential wash methods on QIAcube Connect.
Better profiles from difficult samples
EZ2 DNA Investigator Sep&Prep Kit, designed for use with EZ2 Connect Fx Instrument, offers a powerful, automated solution for this need. By differentially separating sperm from non-sperm DNA, such as epithelial cells, the kit enables stronger, more targeted STR profiles for the male contributor. Importantly, the sperm fraction is ready to proceed directly into STR analysis, while the non-sperm fraction remains available for separate analysis using the EZ1&2 DNA Investigator Kit.
EZ2 Connect Fx instrument
By enriching the DNA fraction from the male donor in challenging cases, the kit helps yield a stronger DNA profile of the suspect with less victim DNA.
Advantages of Sep&Prep compared to other differential methods
The Sep&Prep workflow is especially advantageous for difficult samples – those with low sperm counts and high levels of victim DNA, such as post-coital swabs collected many hours after intercourse. Enhanced sperm cell recovery with minimal female carryover by improved washing and paramagnetic bead technology ensures more accurate downstream analysis and profiling. Also, its highly automated processing on EZ2 Connect Fx helps labs to achieve greater throughput, reproducibility and efficiency, especially valuable in high-volume forensic labs.
ISHI 2025: Stage for launch
The kit will make its debut at the International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI), a key global forum for forensic DNA professionals. “ISHI is THE event in human identification in North America, if not globally,” says O’Neil. “It’s where the experts from all over the world come together to explore and evaluate new technologies. Launching there ensures immediate dialogue with those who matter most.”
Discover how EZ2 DNA Investigator Sep&Prep Kit is changing the field of forensic sample preparation.