The Madeleine McCann case could have a breakthrough in just one week if DNA samples are re-tested, an expert has claimed.

Dr Mark Perlin said crucial evidence that tested inconclusive in the original investigation should be re-examined in the hope of discovering what happened to the then-toddler. Madeleine was just three-year-old when she disappeared from her parents' Praia Da Luz apartment in 2007. She has not been seen since and the investigation into her whereabouts has slowed down significantly. The Daily Star reports that Dr Perlin, a forensics expert, has offered to re-test the inconclusive DNA samples in Pittsburgh Lab Cybernetics - the same technique used to identify 9/11 victims. “What we actually need is the electronic data that comes out of the laboratory off their instruments," he said. “That’s the standard starting point for DNA analysis. It would take us one to two weeks, depending on the data, after we receive it to provide some initial preliminary report.” The samples in question came from Kate and Gerry McCann's rental car and the apartment they had been renting in the Praia Da Luz resort. At the time, the samples came back inconclusive despite sniffer dogs allegedly detecting the scent of decay. Re-testing the DNA with the more modern technique could provide a breakthrough regarding who the samples belonged to, providing details as to who was in the family's apartment the night that Madeleine went missing. This comes following a renewed interest in the Madeleine McCann case due to the recent Netflix docu-series about her disappearance. The eight-part series provided a fresh look at the details surrounding the investigation, the media frenzy around Madeleine's disappearance, and the eventually clearing of Gerry and Kate's names. The parents were asked to appear in the series but declined as they felt it could "hinder" the investigation.