Specimen identification through DNA analysis

Abstract

Analysis of identity through DNA typing has its origins in forensic identity testing and parentage testing. These same analyses also have found tremendous clinical utility in pathology laboratories for a variety of sample identification applications.1-9 These applications include identification of mislabeled specimens of all types, identification of histologic floaters in surgical pathology specimens, and detection of maternal cell contamination in prenatal specimens. The scientific principles and technologies of identity testing are described in the preceding chapters. This chapter focuses on sample issues and result interpretation, which are specific to sample identification and related applications of identity testing in the clinical laboratory. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.