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There are numerous processes that laboratories can establish to minimize the risk of contamination. It is important for each laboratory to assess their specific needs both technically and administratively prior to establishing a process.
Laboratories must demonstrate that they have a facility that is designed to minimize contamination. This may include restricting the movement of staff, equipment, and consumables between pre- and post-amplification areas.
Read Section 6, Facilities, of the QAS.
Some additional processes include:
- Staff training
- Quality control testing of reagents and consumables
- Storage and treatment of consumables
- Implementation of clean techniques05
Training
Laboratory managers should ensure that all laboratory personnel are appropriately trained in the handling and processing of evidence and samples from those arrested or convicted of a crime, in regard to DNA analysis. Providing biological evidence collection training to crime scene response staff and investigators can help ensure that they have an appreciation of DNA contamination issues.
The training should stress that the most effective means of protecting evidence from contamination from investigators and laboratory staff is to use personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, gowns, and masks. In general, universal precaution methods not only protect the investigator and analyst but also ensure that the evidence is protected from contamination by handlers.
Additional Online Courses
- What Every First Responding Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Collecting DNA Evidence at Property Crime Scenes
- DNA – A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook
- Crime Scene and DNA Basics
- Laboratory Safety Programs
- DNA Amplification
- Population Genetics and Statistics
- Non-STR DNA Markers: SNPs, Y-STRs, LCN and mtDNA
- Firearms Examiner Training
- Forensic DNA Education for Law Enforcement Decisionmakers
- What Every Investigator and Evidence Technician Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court
- Law 101: Legal Guide for the Forensic Expert
- Laboratory Orientation and Testing of Body Fluids and Tissues
- DNA Extraction and Quantitation
- STR Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Communication Skills, Report Writing, and Courtroom Testimony
- Español for Law Enforcement
- Amplified DNA Product Separation for Forensic Analysts