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How to Interpret RCMP ProfilerPlus Scores

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP, uses Profiler Plus as one method of forensic DNA analysis. DNA is a human being's most basic molecule, holding 23 pairs of chromosomes at its nucleus that contain all of the person's unique genetic information. Only identical twins contain the same DNA. Profiler Plus analyzes nine different areas of interest, or alleles, as well as gender. This information is used to create a DNA profile graph, which allows officers to compare an unknown DNA source to a known source.

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the first and third numbers under the graph of each sample. These refer to the allele call, or repeat number, of the two samples being compared. This number is obtained by comparing the "peak size (bp) to allelic ladder allele peak sizes" that are run under identical conditions, according to the North Eastern Association of Forensic Scientist's data interpretation workshop.
- 2
  Locate the second and fourth numbers located under the graph of each sample. These numbers refer to the peak height of the two samples.
- 3
  Determine whether the allele call numbers and the peak height numbers of the unknown source match those of the known source. If they are different, then the two samples are not a match. If they do match, the two samples have the same DNA profile.
- 4
  Locate the statistical significance evaluation, if provided. This will tell you whether the laboratory considered the results statistically significant, or reliable.

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