Cigarette butts are a volume crime evidence type: burglaries, car thefts, street assaults. They are also among the most inhibitor-laden samples in forensic DNA work.

The standard approach adds post-extraction purification steps to remove inhibitors. Those steps add complexity, reduce automation compatibility, and reduce DNA yield from trace samples.

Exymes Application Note 001 tested forensicGEM Universal on 21 brands from Marlboro to Mild Seven, across menthol, filter, and ultra-mild variants; using a single closed-tube extraction at 75°C with no post-extraction purification.

Sixteen of twenty-one brands produced full and usable STR profiles with Identifiler. Two failed. Three gave partial profiles.

The method is compatible with 96-well formats and standard automation