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 International
Forensic LIMS Projects
Showcased at IAFS 2005
The17th Meeting of the International Association of Forensic
Sciences (IAFS) August 2005, in Hong Kong, highlighted
STARLIMS involvement in international forensics. STARLIMS a
co-sponsor of the event showcased two case studies: a DNA database
laboratory and a comprehensive forensic operation covering
multiple-labs.
STARLIMS assists a forensic laboratory in the efficient management
of substantial quantities of data relating to evidence collection,
analysis and case management. The reliability and accuracy of
forensic information provided is crucial to its proposed usage
throughout the legal process.
By capturing all relevant evidence submission data at the time of
receipt, STARLIMS allows the forensic laboratory to perform
extensive evidence tracking through the “life cycle” of the
investigation. The comprehensive integrated electronic
chain-of-custody provides a complete record of evidence submission
transfer and laboratory activities, incorporating full transactional
audit trails, bar-coding and electronic data storage and signatures.
Data migration is facilitated and a backlog of historical data is
stored for retrieval. Statistical information is made available
pertaining to case results, case cross-reference, analyst
performance, case backlog, or other pertinent data related to
overall performance. STARLIMS supports compliance with standards
such as ASCLD and ISO 17025.
 Hong Kong Government DNA Database Laboratory
The Hong Kong Government Laboratory provides a full range of
analytical, investigatory and advisory services to enable Government
departments to meet their responsibilities for law and order, public
health and safety, environmental protection, government revenue and
consumers' interests. Similar services are provided for other
statutory bodies.
The DNA Database Laboratory is one of the DNA analysis sections in
the Government Laboratory. Its main responsibilities are to perform
DNA analysis on samples from persons convicted of a serious offence
and those suspected of having committed a criminal offence. The
samples are set up in a computerized DNA database and the laboratory
administers and maintains the database.
In order to cope with the large number of samples, the DNA
Laboratory has recently implemented STARLIMS to; track
samples/exhibits, manage the analysis workflow, integrate
instruments used in various procedures and with other analysis
software to minimize human interventions, provide data traceability
complete with chain-of-custody, audit trail and electronic
signature. STARLIMS also automates communications among different
government agencies such as the crime lab to compare sample
identities and statuses and by using FBI’s CODIS system a local DNA
Database is built.
By effectively merging Forensic Sciences with IT Technology,
STARLIMS assists the DNA Database Lab in accomplishing electronic
DNA Profiling and laboratory automation.
Forensic Science Institute of Puerto Rico
Compiling the operation of fifteen (15) forensic disciplines and
four (4) Satellite Labs/Offices into one single system is a major
project. At the Forensic Sciences Institute of Puerto Rico (ICF
from Spanish Instituto de Ciencias Forenses) in San Juan, this
switch provided a new way to perform the analysis and obtain results
at the touch of one finger.
STARLIMS implementation at ICF to be presented at the conference
will provide a glimpse of the processes around such a complex
system. From evidence reception and its flow thorough out the crime
lab and the issuance of certificate of analysis. Recently, ICF
began providing access to other agencies within the Puerto Rico
Criminal Justice system to access their evidence data regarding
ongoing cases by means of the internet. Jose H. Lebron, Chief
Information Officer, Forensic Science Institute of Puerto Rico will
provide a live demonstration of this capability with the STARLIMS
web based technology implemented at the ICF |
