DNA Testing

DNA FORENSIC ANALYSIS

Trimega Laboratories' DNA forensic offering is positioned by combining best in class sector knowledge with a collaborative team of forensic accredited laboratory partners and an understanding of crime scene disaster. This service is only offered through government agencies.

Together with our partner accredited forensic laboratories, we are able to reduce casework backlogs by offering advanced methodology analysis and reduced costs coupled with time critical milestones. Trimega Laboratores provide the results you need, on time, on budget with unfailing accuracy.

Our DNA experts are validated to perform forensic casework using the Applied Biosystems AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus, COfiler, Identifiler, MiniFiler and Y-Filer kits and Promega's PowerPlex 16 and PowerPlex Y kits. We use Applied Biosystems 3130xl Genetic Analysers and analyse data with Genescan/Genotyper and GeneMapperID software.

Our DNA analysts are experts at difficult mixture interpretations. This comes from years of experience and our strictly validated stochastic thresholds that they have implemented in interpretation protocols. This demonstrates a commitment to data quality that most other private forensic labs in the industry do not employ. We feel strongly that unless you take stochastic issues into account then you can never be assured of the reliability of low level DNA profiles.

DNA testing is a highly technical process and forensic DNA testing requires extreme accuracy, thoroughness and documentation. When the two disciplines are combined, only a forensic DNA laboratory with expert, experienced staff and critically refined processing techniques can provide the level of performance needed to assure quality forensic DNA results that will withstand rigorous review.

MINI-STR CASEWORK

Mini-STR testing is designed specifically to work on inhibited or/and degraded DNA samples. If standard DNA testing has been performed and the results were weak or gave an indication of there being DNA below the labs reportable threshold then mini-STR testing can often help fill in the blanks. Also, min-STR testing is an excellent tool to use if you know THE profile and would like to include or exclude that profile.

In law enforcement cases, mini-STR testing can be used to link an individual to a particular piece of evidence and the results from the test are court admissible. Mini-STR testing is a wonderful investigative tool and can be used for keyboard searches using the CODIS database.

This new advanced forensic DNA technology has produced results when other forensic labs' previous DNA testing yielded no data or partial DNA profiles which were not useful in prosecuting the case. Our partner forensic DNA platform has achieved an 84% success rate in getting DNA results from previously tested evidence.

Using mini-STR testing, such as MiniFiler, is especially effective in solving Cold Cases. Advances in forensic DNA technology over the last decade means that new results can also be combined with the results from older DNA tests to get even better profiles. All eight of the MiniFiler loci tested are part of the CODIS 13 loci.

YSTR CASEWORK

Our partner lab platform forensic staff has considerable expertise in performing Y-STR analysis and interpretation in forensic casework. This technology can be more sensitive than STR analysis. Y-STR analysis can supplement STR analysis to more clearly distinguish a male contributor in a low level mixture.

Our forensics capability is in the process of developing an extended Y panel for use in forensic casework. This Y extension will increase the power of discrimination and the statistical significance of the match comparison.

With these advanced capabilities, Trimega and our partners are leaders in the forensic community for Y-STR analysis.

Our laboratory network and forensic DNA staff has extensive experience in extracting DNA from difficult evidence. We recognise that each piece of forensic evidence may have its own unique challenges that must be taken into consideration in order to maximise the amount of DNA extracted. Some of these testing capabilities are:

blood stains, cigarette butts, foetal tissue, hair follicles, partially eaten food,bite marks, gum, beverage cans, saliva, latex gloves, seme, fingernail scrapings, envelopes/stamps, bone/teeth, air bags, toothbrushes, fingerprints, weapons, touched items, ski masks, clothing, vaginal swabs, anal swabs, biological fluids, shell casings

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