US-based Dr Mark Perlin has lodged a request with London’s Metropolitan Police to release 18 samples related to Maddie’s 2007 disappearance. 

He claims his Pittsburgh lab Cybernetics – which has identified victims of the 9/11 terror attack – can unlock samples UK authorities initially struggled to analyse. 

But the Metropolitan Police have yet to respond – despite Dr Perlin’s free offer. 

He told Daily Star Online: “They have a choice. There have been a lot of DNA mistakes – I wouldn’t say they have been intentional – but maybe through limited methods.

“There are mistakes clearly made in this case looking at the reports from 12 years ago, and in thousands of other major crimes over the last 20 years. 

“They could be opening up a can of worms to ask how many other thousands of cases need to be reexamined”

Dr Mark Perlin

Portuguese police investigating Maddie’s disappearance initially sent DNA findings to be examined by the UK’s Forensic Science Service (FSS) in Birmingham. 

But senior FSS scientist Dr John Lowe said they were “too complex” for his team.

He explained in a 2007 report: “Let’s look at the question that is being asked: is there DNA from Madeline on the swab?

“It would be very simple to say ‘yes’ simply because of the number of components within the result that are also in her reference sample.”

But Dr Lowe added: “We cannot answer the question: is the match genuine or is it a chance match?

“The same applies to any result that is quoted as being too complex for meaningful inclusion/interpretation.”

Unlike the FSS, Dr Perlin’s team possess a computer programme called TrueAllele that can analyse far more complex data. 

In 2016, his lab successfully analysed a minute piece of DNA evidence in a high-profile mass murder trial in Australia. 

It was pivotal in securing a guilty verdict against Robert Xie, who slaughtered five relatives and evaded justice at three earlier trials. 

If Scotland Yard do release the samples, Dr Perlin’s team could provide a preliminary report within just one to two weeks. 

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “The investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann remains ongoing. We are not providing a running commentary.”

Daily Star Online has approached the McCann family’s spokesman for comment. 

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