An overview of reference materials prepared for standardization of DNA typing procedures

Although DNA typing is an accurate, precise, and robust procedure, quality assurance is enhanced by availability of a suitable reference material. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently released a Standard Reference Material (SRM) that meets the calibration and quality assurance needs of laboratories that perform DNA typing. Each step of the analytical process of DNA typing may be verified by one or more of twenty different components of the SRM. As newer, more sensitive methods for DNA typing have been introduced into the human identification laboratory repertoire, new SRMs will be required for quality assurance. A second SRM for PCR-based tests is under development and soon to be available, is also described.