Forensic DNA Unit Efficiency Improvement

The Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory (KCPCL) plans to process known standards in a highly efficient manner similar to successful convicted offender databases through an entirely new, streamlined process involving a novel extraction method, no quantitation, use of a 96 well plate format, robotics and an expert system. This program will be cheap and easy to implement, allowing any laboratory to improve their efficiency. In addition, this program is completely scalable to allow for robotics, hands-off analysis, and expansion to other types of samples. This program will include validating a new extraction method, purchasing additional robotic equipment to perform the extraction method, and validating an expert system for analysis of known standards. Data analysis and technical review are the current 'bottlenecks' of the DNA process. Implementing an expert system to analyze a portion of the samples tested in a casework laboratory can significantly affect the efficiency of the laboratory. The KCPCL will work with those agencies responsible for quality assurance guidelines to expand the guidelines on expert systems to forensic casework samples. Working together, this program can open the door for any crime laboratory to utilize this new technology in a fast and effective manner.

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