FBI Gives Green Light for Use of Rapid DNA Solution in Booking Stations
by Douglas Ankney
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Applied Biosystems Rapid HIT ID DNA Booking System was approved by the FBI for use by law enforcement booking stations to automatically process, upload, and search DNA reference samples from qualifying arrestees against the U.S. National DNA Index System (“NDIS”) database.
Joanie Brocato, former DNA manager at the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory and current head of the Clinical Laboratory Science program at Louisiana State University Health Science Center said, “DNA processing and searching, while the suspect is in custody, significantly reduces the time to identify or eliminate a potential suspect and decreases the opportunity for reoffending or fleeing. It also helps to further close the gaps on missed arrestee collections that occur today.”
Brocato added, “The FBI NDIS approval demonstrates that Rapid DNA in a booking station can be used responsibly, in a manner that maintains the quality and integrity of the Combined DNA Index System (“CODIS”), while assisting law enforcement in expediting the identification of potential perpetrators.”
The Rapid HIT DNA Booking system was developed specifically with the booking station in mind and provides: high success rates with a wide range of commonly used DNA collection swabs; seamless integration of DNA profiles with Live Scan terminals and other biometric information systems to align with FBI, state, and agency requirements; auditing, reporting, and instructional tools embedded to make it simpler to maintain security and to comply with FBI guidelines; and cost-efficient single-sample processing in real-time.
But will the users be properly trained, follow protocol, and report inaccuracies? That’s yet to be determined.
Source: forensicmag.com
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