Highlights
- •FIDL is a fast and automated DNA identification line.
- •Automation includes analysis, contamination check, database comparison and reporting.
- •The software development, validation and implementation in casework is described.
- •FIDL provides investigative leads at early stages of the investigation.
Abstract
The importance of DNA evidence for gaining investigative leads demands a fast workflow
for forensic DNA profiling performed in large volumes. Therefore, we developed software
solutions for automated DNA profile analysis, contamination check, major donor inference,
DNA database (DDB) comparison and reporting of the conclusions. This represents the
Fast DNA IDentification Line (FIDL) and this study describes its development, validation and implementation
in criminal casework at the authors’ institute. This first implementation regards
single donor profiles and major contributors to mixtures. The validation included
testing of the software components on their own and examination of the performance
of different DDB search strategies. Furthermore, end-to-end testing was performed
under three conditions: (1) testing of scenarios that can occur in DNA casework practice,
(2) tests using three months of previous casework data, and (3) testing in a casework
production environment in parallel to standard casework practices. The same DNA database
candidates were retrieved by this automated line as by the manual workflow. The data
flow was correct, results were reproducible and robust, results requiring manual analysis
were correctly flagged, and reported results were as expected. Overall, we found FIDL
valid for use in casework practice in our institute. The results from FIDL are automatically
reported within three working days from receiving the trace sample. This includes
the time needed for registration of the case, DNA extraction, quantification, polymerase
chain reaction and capillary electrophoresis. FIDL itself takes less than two hours
from intake of the raw CE data to reporting. Reported conclusions are one of five
options: (1) candidate retrieved from DDB, (2) no candidate retrieved from DDB, (3)
high evidential value with regards to reference within the case, (4) results require
examination of expert, or (5) insufficient amount of DNA obtained to generate a DNA
profile. In our current process, the automated report is sent within three working
days and a complete report, with confirmation of the FIDL results, and signed by a
reporting officer is sent at a later time. The signed report may include additional
analyses regarding e.g. minor contributors. The automated report with first case results
is quickly available to the police enabling them to act upon the DNA results prior
to receiving the full DNA report. This line enables a uniform and efficient manner
of handling large numbers of traces and cases and provides high value investigative
leads in the early stages of the investigation.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 08, 2022
Accepted:
June 6,
2022
Received in revised form:
May 31,
2022
Received:
April 15,
2022
Identification
Copyright
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