Figure 1 shows the typical short tandem repeat profile with allele designation and peak height values for genomic DNA extracted from stamps using the Qiagen method. Fragment sizes were determined using ABI PRISM GeneScan Analysis Software Version 3.7. Allele designations were assigned using the allelic ladders of the Genotyper Software Version 3.6 (Applied Biosystems). An allele was scored when its peak height was greater than 20 percent of the peak height of the most prominent allele at a given locus. The horizontal axis represents the values in base pairs (bp), and the vertical axis represents the values in relative fluorescent units (RFU). The figure consists of four rows, which correspond to the four dyes employed by the DNA sequencing system. The peak heights for each allele are labeled. The peaks of about 103 bp in blue, yellow, and red channels are bleed-throughs.

The top row represents the 6-FAM (blue) channel. The peak height values (in RFU) are as follows: at locus D3S1358: allele 14, 1649, and allele 17, 1428; at locus vWA: allele 17, 1108, and allele 18, 1023; at locus D16S539: allele 8, 637, and allele 12, 720; and at locus D2S1338: allele 19, 334, and allele 22, 448. The second row represents the VIC (green) channel, with peak height values as follows: at locus Amelogenin: allele X, 3952; at locus D8S1179: allele 11, 1774, and allele 12, 1087; at locus SE33: allele 27.2, 365, and allele 31.2, 314. The third row represents the NED (yellow) channel, with peak height values as follows: at locus D19S433: allele 13, 1412; at locus THO1: allele 9.3, 1175; and at locus FGA: allele 24, 1432. The fourth row represents the PET (red) channel, with peak height values as follows: at locus D21S11: allele 28, 337, and allele 31.2, 246; and at locus D18S51: allele 12, 379, and allele 16, 263.

In our routine work, the genomic DNA extraction protocol from stamps using the Qiagen method provides sufficient yield and purity of DNA ensuring strong amplification and high sensitivity. In all samples analyzed for evaluation, allelic characterization was performed without any problems.

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