BACKGROUND: STR systems are widely used in forensic casework due to theirdiscriminating power and high sensitivity. The aim of the study was to determine allele frequencies andforensic efficiency parameters of the STRs D8S1132, CD4, VWA and TH01 in a population sample of Podlasie(Northeastern Poland).
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood specimens were collected from the unrelated individualsin Podlasie, Poland. The DNA samples were extracted with Chelex method and amplified by PCR technique.The PCR products were analyzed by the PAG horizontal electrophoresis with discontinuous buffer systemand then silver stained.
RESULTS: All common alleles included in the allelic ladders were found. Forall loci examined no deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were found.
CONCLUSION: The TH01, VWAand D8S1132 systems have been confirmed as particularly useful in the paternity testing and the individualizationof biological evidence.

Keywords: Short tandem repeats, D8S1132, CD4, VWA, TH01, population genetics