Over 75 key DNA analysis instruments, valued at over $5.5m, to be protected at NYC's new DNA Laboratory to ensure reliability of forensic testing for crime-scene investigations and state DNA registry
Franek Technologies has been selected to protect over 75 Applied Biosystems (ABI) PCR and genetic analysers at New York's new Forensic Biology DNA Laboratory, due to open in November 2006.
As a result of these installations, valued at over $5,500,000, key instrumentation at the state-of-the-art DNA Laboratory, the most advanced forensic DNA laboratory in the United States, will be protected against power fluctuations or failure that could otherwise cause loss of irreplaceable crime-related samples and data, costly damage to instrumentation, as well as significant lost productive time.
Franek Technologies custom-engineered a turn-key power protection solution (with 30-60 minute extended run-time depending on the application), which ensures that the key instrumentation within the DNA Laboratory is protected against inevitable power fluctuations and safeguards the integrity and reliability of test results.
Forensics laboratories are extremely vulnerable to power fluctuations, even those lasting as little as 30 milliseconds, due to the complexity and sensitivity of their instrumentation and automated equipment.
Providing this level of instrumentation-grade power protection is especially important with forensic testing since sample volume is often extremely limited making a rerun due to suspect instrument performance impossible.
New York City has invested more than $250 million in its new DNA Laboratory, which is being built by the Dormitory Authority of New York (DASNY) and operated by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) of New York.
The laboratory will greatly expand the existing testing capacity of New York by allowing DNA analysis to be performed in all cases, instead of just sex crimes and homicides.
It will also be the first forensic laboratory in the country able to perform new highly sensitive analyses to extract DNA profiles from tiny samples left behind at crime scenes.
The capabilities of the new laboratory will also significantly increase the number of forensic samples that New York City contributes to the state's DNA database.
Pending legislation, the state hopes to require that all convicted criminals provide DNA samples for inclusion in the State DNA and US Department of Justice Codis Databases.
Due to the importance of accurate and reliable test results, the DNA Laboratory sought the higher level of power protection offered by Franek Technologies.
Franek Technologies began working with New York's OCME, as a custom engineered laboratory equipment solution provider, back in 2000.
Franek Technologies is currently protecting numerous OCME mission critical instruments, including ABI's 2400, 9600 and 9700 GeneAmp PCR (polymerase chain reaction) thermal cyclers, and Prism 310, 3100, 3100Avant and 3130xl genetic analysers.
"This is a real world example of 'CSI-New York' in action, with its state-of-the-art laboratories rivaling those seen in the television series.
"Protecting the integrity of the results of the DNA analysis performed at New York's new DNA Laboratory complex is very important as this is a critical application for public safety," explains Ray Hecker, vice president, Franek Technologies.
"We look forward to our ongoing custom engineering and product supply relationship with both the DASNY and the OCME."
