30-Jun-2023

Kern County presents its NGS findings at 2023 AAFS conference

Kern County was the first American crime lab to deploy TrueAllele. The lab presented its next-generation sequencing (NGS) experiences at the 2023 American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) conference. NGS, an advanced DNA sequencing technology for forensic science identification, may well be the future of forensic DNA analysis. Kern County DNA tech lead and TrueAllele user Mandi Van Buren gave two AAFS talks on her labʼs NGS system decision, validation, and implementation. Here are some presentation highlights:

• Internal validation of Verogen ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit Primer Set B using the Hamilton Nimbus HD and MiSeq FGX
• The Kern Regional Crime Laboratory performed an internal validation of the Verogen ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit Primer Set B using the Hamilton Nimbus HD and MiSeq FGX. Precision and accuracy studies, sensitivity and stochastic studies, mixture studies, mock evidence sample studies and a contamination assessment study were performed during the validation.
  
  
• One laboratoryʼs experience with next-generation sequencing: the decision, the validation, and the implementation.
• The decision for the laboratory to make the leap from CE to NGS for all casework samples involved many considerations and support from various stakeholders. This presentation will take a further look into why the laboratory made the decision to move towards NGS as the standard for casework, what was considered, what challenges we faced throughout the validation process, and recommendations for other laboratories considering NGS. Additionally, this presentation will fast forward to where the laboratory is today: discussing implementation, training, case acceptance and triage, integration with our existing probabilistic genotyping and local databasing system, and testimony preparation.

Cybergenetics TrueAllele soware can input and process NGS data. This powerful pathway brings Verogen MiSeq FGx autosomal STR data into the TrueAllele Casework process. Once NGS data has been imported, downstream TrueAllele processing integrates seamlessly into the lab's existing workflow. TrueAllele on NGS data interprets and matches DNA mixtures, using it like any other STR data source. TrueAllele automation makes the DNA analyst's job fast and easy.

Links

• Kern County resolves the DNA mixture crisis - Forensic Magazine
• American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 75th Anniversary Conference - 2023 Program
• TrueAllele supports NGS technology with SNP, Indel and STR markers - Newsroom