Trinity DNA Solutions Operates Data Unimited International’s Starfruit LIMS
The scientific analysis of evidence is the basis of the forensic DNA investigation. For evidence to be admissible in a legal hearing or trial, it must have an intact chain of custody. A chain of custody accounts for the identification, location, and custody of evidence from the time the laboratory takes possession of the evidence until it leaves the laboratory’s possession. Therefore, it is a necessary task to maintain and document the integrity, security, chain of custody and location for the evidence received by the laboratory.
To assure the admissibility of evidence, Trinity DNA Solutionsoptimized the integrity of samples’ records starting with chain of custody reports. Trinity DNA Solutionsdesigned a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) using Starfruit IdentiTrack® LIMS to track the movement of every sample from accessioning to ship-out and to generate electronic chain of custody reports. As soon as Trinity DNA Solutions receives physical evidence – the parent item, the accessioning record is entered into Starfruit IdentiTrack®; a barcode label is printed to identify the parent item; Starfruit IdentiTrack® electronic chain of custody kicks off. There are occasions in evidence handling and examination where the whole parent item itself is not tested but rather a sampling is removed from the parent item. Sampling may be performed by cutting, scraping, swabbing, removing loose material. The resulting material from sampling is derivative evidence. Derivative evidence may also be the final result of tests which have extracted or removed a specific component from the parent item or from a derivative item. Trinity DNA Solutions‘ optimized SOP provides the chain of custody reports on both the parent item and the derivative samples to assure the complete tracking history to admit to courts.
Trinity DNA Solutions is a DNA Advisory Board (DAB) audited (NFSTC-certified) and ISO 17025 accredited forensic DNA laboratory with over 12 years experience in forensic serology, forensic DNA analysis, civil and criminal paternity testing, identity testing, expert witness testimony, “Family DNA Gene Trees”, consulting and case review using the following testing platforms: ABI 3100-Avant, ABI 7000, Quantifiler and Identifiler (15 loci), Genemapper ID software and Starfruit IdentiTrack® LIMS.
