Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel and sequencing of telogen hairs – perspectives for validation and implementation in casework

Shed hair is a commonly encountered type of forensic evidence. Shed telogen hairs generally contain insufficient or highly degraded nuclear DNA for STR profiling; however, mtDNA analysis of telogen hair and hair shafts remains possible. We validated whole mitochondrial genome (mtGenome) sequencing using the Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and subsequently implemented the panel for the analysis of telogen hair, buccal, and casework samples. We analysed 90 diluted DNA samples containing 3-3,600 mtDNA copies, shed telogen hairs and their corresponding mtDNA from buccal swabs from 91 individuals, and 11 archived DNA extracts from hair samples in criminal cases. Complete mtGenome sequences were consistently recovered in 99% of samples across DNA dilution series at DNA input levels as low as 47 mtDNA copies, demonstrating the assay's robustness under low-template conditions. We obtained complete and reproducible mtGenome sequences with ≥ 327 mtDNA copies/µL from telogen hair samples. After applying ISFG recommendations and excluding low-confidence discrepancies associated with high-strand bias, heteroplasmic variants and sequencing artifacts, mtGenome sequence concordance increased from 93.4% to 100%. None of the 16 negative controls produced complete mtDNA sequences. Six negative controls showed low-level mtDNA signal (2-8 variants), consisting predominantly of common polymorphisms. These samples did not yield complete mtGenome sequences and showed no correspondence to any of the analysed samples. Finally, archived telogen hair samples from criminal cases presented complete mtGenome sequences with an average read depth of 1,037x.Our findings highlight the reliability of mtDNA analysis of telogen hairs using the Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel for implementation in forensic casework.