Oakland Police Department begins using FaSTR DNA in criminal investigations

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — As of January 10, 2022the Oakland (CA) The Police Department Crime Laboratory has begun using FaSTR™ DNA, expert forensic software that quickly analyzes DNA profiles, in its criminal investigations.

Developed by the same team that created STRmix™ – sophisticated forensic software capable of resolving mixed DNA profiles that were previously considered too complex or degraded to interpret – FaSTR™ DNA integrates seamlessly with STRmix ™ (when used) for even greater speed and efficiency in the analysis and interpretation of complex mixed DNA profiles.

FaSTR™ DNA combines an intuitive graphical interface with easily understandable and customizable rules in the lab to speed up the analysis of raw data generated by standard genetic analyzers and profiling kits. It is also able to assign an estimate of the number of contributors (NoC).

the Oakland The Police Department (OPD) serves the community of Oakland, California. The Forensic Science Division (Crime Lab) has twelve employees assigned to the Forensic Biology Unit. The ADN Technical Department worked with ESR to validate the ADN FaSTR™ methods to be used in the processing of files. Analysis of hundreds of samples and the resulting data gave staff confidence that the method was fit for purpose and capable of delivering efficiencies. The OPD Crime Lab is proud to be at the forefront of integrating new validated methods such as FaSTR™ DNA.

Recognizing the need for speed, accuracy and simplicity in investigations, FaSTR™ DNA eases the testing process, delivering reliable results with minimal effort. “We believe the sophisticated user interface and comprehensive feature set of FaSTR™ DNA will be very appealing to users looking to increase the efficiency and speed of STR profiling analysis,” says Dr. Meng Han LinSenior Scientist, STRmix™ Team.

FaSTR™ DNA works by applying a fully configurable set of rules to automatically analyze most DNA profiles. For more complex DNA analyzes in which the intervention of a DNA analyst is required, FaSTR™ DNA provides all the details related to the possible ambiguity of a peak (i.e. morphology peak, low homozygote, heterozygous imbalance) and signals a requirement for the analyst to make a decision. It saves and then highlights the changes made by the analyst.

In combination with STRmix ™ and DBLR ™ – an application that can calculate millions of likelihood ratios in seconds when used with STRmix ™, allowing forensic laboratories to undertake lightning-fast database searches. data, visualize the value of DNA mix evidence, and perform mix-and-match mixes – FaSTR™ DNA completes the complete workflow, from analysis to interpretation and base matching. data. Odds ratios are used to assess the strength of DNA evidence and the likelihood that DNA found at a crime scene belongs to specific individuals.

The effectiveness of these solutions, coupled with the highly successful track record that STRmix™ has established in producing usable, interpretable and legally admissible DNA evidence in over 300,000 criminal cases, has led to their widespread adoption in forensic laboratories around the world. whole world.

Currently, 69 federal, state and local agencies in the United States regularly use STRmix™ for DNA analysis. Internationally, nine state and territory forensic laboratories Australia and New Zealandand 14 laboratories in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Finland, Switzerlandand Denmark now use STRmix™.

To see a brief overview of FaSTR™ DNA, visit https://vimeo.com/423795087/16f82f22b1. For more information on FaSTR™ DNA, visit https://www.strmix.com/fastr. For more information on STRmix™ products, visit http://www.strmix.com.

Media Contact

Ray WeissPugh & Tiller PR, +1 4103035019, [email protected]

SOURCE STRmix

Mark M. Gagnon