Scientific Working Group on
DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM)
PUBLIC COMMENT PAGE
In accordance with the SWGDAM Bylaws (Section V.C.5), SWGDAM will make any new or revised guidance or standard document(s) available for public comment for a minimum of 30 days. Generally, SWGDAM attempts to review its guidance documents within 5 years of their issuance and is usually actively revising at least one of its guidance documents at any given time. SWGDAM strongly encourages the forensic DNA community or other interested group to comment on the SWGDAM documents currently in this stage of development. Upon receipt, these comments will be forwarded to the appropriate SWGDAM Committee for consideration and may be incorporated into the final document considered for approval by the SWGDAM Membership.
Alternately, SWGDAM may publish a response to a specific suggestion or recommendation on its FAQ Page for general information purposes. SWGDAM will make all reasonable efforts to advise the forensic DNA community of those documents currently available for public comment. SWGDAM strongly encourages all interested parties to regularly monitor SWGDAM.org for the guidance document(s) or standard document(s) currently available for public comment. Please use the contact portal below for providing comments on the SWGDAM document(s) available for public comment.
SWGDAM Documents Available for Public Comment
The new proposed Guidelines for the use of Probabilistic Genotyping with Autosomal STR Typing Results are now available for public comment. This document contains proposed guidelines for the use of probabilistic genotyping systems (PGS) to assist with the interpretation of electrophoresis-based short tandem repeat (STR) DNA typing results from evidentiary specimens. Information on the application of other methods of analysis and interpretation, including binary methods, is provided in the SWGDAM Interpretation Guidelines for Autosomal STR Typing by Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories. Guidance is provided in these new proposed guidelines for forensic casework analysis using probabilistic genotyping when analyzing and interpreting autosomal STR typing data and drawing conclusions. This document includes core elements that should be addressed within the laboratory using probabilistic genotyping and provides guidelines for the development of standard operating procedures (SOP) for probabilistic genotyping of autosomal STR DNA typing results. Details and examples aim to assist the analyst in proper application of the method. This document will be available for public comment through September 13, 2024.
SWGDAM Guidelines for the use of Probabilistic Genotyping with Autosomal STR Typing Results
Please use the PG STR Public Comment Form below for capturing comments and submit it using the File Upload function of the Comment/Suggestion Portal below. To submit the PG STR Public Comment Form, please mark the SWGDAM Document, Page#/Line#, Comment, and Suggested Revision/New Language fields as N/A, complete the Submitted By and Email fields, and upload the Excel sheet as an attachment into the File Upload field.