New DNA technology arrives

The first commercial reagent kit for analysing degraded or limited DNA, with new software for automating testing processes to streamline forensic laboratory workflow is now available.

Applied Biosystems said it expects the AmpFLSTR MiniFiler PCR amplification kit for degraded DNA, the HID Evolution System and Valid Software will help more than 10,000 forensic laboratories around the world maximise the use of DNA in human identification.

Each of these products and technologies are designed to work in unison to strengthen a crime laboratory`s capacity to process reproducible and defensible DNA samples and eliminate sample backlogs.

An Applied Biosystems spokesperson said: “Because DNA can be found virtually everywhere, it has become a great resource in providing information that aids the investigative process, and there are great demands on forensic labs to process samples in a quality, timely manner that meets regulatory requirements.”

The MiniFiler kit enables forensic DNA analysts to generate more useful information from degraded DNA as well as from samples that are limited by an impurity – inhibited DNA samples. The genetic information obtained can then be used in criminal, missing persons and mass disaster cases.

The new HID Evolution System is an automated DNA workstation with new software designed to streamline routine casework sample workflow for human identification applications. By incorporating automated liquid handling and data transfer into forensic DNA testing laboratories, the HID Evolution system reduces the labour required to process casework samples while decreasing the turnaround time.