First State-Wide deployment of the RapidHIT® System
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At the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Symposium in Scottsdale, AZ, Vince Figarelli, Crime Lab Superintendent at AZ-DPS, presented an overview of the Department’s state-wide deployment of the RapidHIT system.
Like many state crime laboratories across the country, AZ-DPS faces tight resource and budget constraints that limit the number of DNA samples that they can collect and process in a reasonable period of time. Their solution is to use the RapidHIT System in conjunction with the SmallPond database software to store and search over 350,000 DNA profiles. The simplicity of the system and the database interface has enabled state officials to train law enforcement officers to bring DNA samples to the instrument for processing and generate search results in hours rather than months. This puts law enforcement agencies squarely in control of which DNA cases need to be fast-tracked without impacting the important work being performed by laboratory personnel.
“The Arizona rapid DNA system can provide officers with investigative leads faster than ever before. In cases with appropriate samples, officers can perform the rapid DNA analysis and search the database in hopes of obtaining a preliminary identification of a suspect, rather than waiting weeks or months for laboratory results,” said Figarelli.
“The Arizona DPS deployment is a significant step for US Law Enforcement in preventing crimes with DNA,” commented Robert Schueren, President and Chief Executive Officer of IntegenX. “Generating real-time search results will provide tremendous safety benefits to the residents of Arizona”.
“SmallPond is committed to providing DNA databasing tools that enable law enforcement to maximize the potential of using DNA-based technologies to solve and prevent crimes in their communities”, commented Scott Rulong, President SmallPond, LLC.
The IntegenX RapidHIT System fully automates and integrates all steps necessary to generate a DNA profile in less than two hours. With less than five minutes of hands-on time, an operator can generate up to seven complete DNA profiles. RapidHIT System DNA profiles are completely compatible with standard databases that contain previously generated profiles from reference and crime scene sources. Combining ease of use and rapid turnaround time for DNA human identification will have a high impact toward ensuring the safety of our communities.
