RESUMO
This work is aimed at describing the proceedings and parameters used to validate PowerPlex® Fusion 6C System, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification kit by Promega, for posterior implementation in the laboratorial routine of the Forensic Genetic Service. The PowerPlex® Fusion 6C System allows multiplex PCR, through simultaneous amplification and posterior detection by fluorescence of 27 loci. Characterization of the kit was made according to the laboratory's internal validation procedure based on validation guidelines from Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods. Some parameters were evaluated, such as specificity, analytical thresholds, sensitivity, precision, mixture studies, DNA control samples, a proficiency test and changes in the PCR-based procedures: final reaction volume and cycle number, changes in the reaction mixture for direct amplification. This kit proved to be very robust and the results are in concordance with previous developmental validation by the manufacturer. In some parameters, the results were better than expected.
RESUMO
This study analyzes the allelic frequency distribution of 17 STRs contained in the AmpFlSTR Identifiler (Applied Biosystems) and PowerPlex16 System (Promega) commercial kits for two large population samples from the Azores archipelago (Portugal) (N=475) and from Central Portugal (N=2125). Likewise, it includes a comparative study among the population groups analyzed in this paper and those which history points out as originating from the first settlers of the Azores. All loci were highly polymorphic. The Central Portuguese area and the Azores archipelago population samples are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the 17 markers analyzed.