Portable DNA analyser could speed up Police investigations

Portable DNA analyser could speed up Police investigations

ESR | 7 June 2013

Portable DNA analyser could speed up Police investigations

“We tested the device to understand how it can be used in New Zealand to get the fastest identification of people involved in crimes, while maintaining same the level of quality and accuracy of the older tests,” says ESR forensic development manager Bjorn Sutherland.

The analysis process takes approximately 60 minutes including DNA extraction and analysis.

In the trial took place as part of ESR’s future Crime scene research project, 25 mouth swab samples and other sample types were tested. Sutherland says the results were very encouraging and ESR will consider the potential for future use of the device in New Zealand.

Five NEC technical staff, including Professor Minoru Asogawa, director of development for the DNA Analyzer device, came to New Zealand to trial the device at ESR’s Mount Albert DNA analysis facility.

The trial has allowed ESR’s crime scene and DNA experts to get hands on experience with the DNA Analyzer, and obtain results to help the team understand the reliability, cost, speed, ease of use and robustness of the device.

“The first phase of testing is to ensure the rapid DNA device produces results that are the same as those we’d get in our lab. Early results are promising, but much more research and testing is needed before we can use the device on crime scene samples such as bloodstains,” says Sutherland.

ESR will be discussing with NEC future opportunities to test the device.

ENDS

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