The Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) has ordered a BiOS Automated Biobanking system from Hamilton Storage Technologies
Hamilton Storage Technologies has announced the sale of a new -80degC BiOS third-generation biobanking system to the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) for long-term storage of DNA extracts from crime scenes.
The NFI performs the vast majority of all forensic DNA casework in the country, including providing second opinions and analyses for cold cases.
Netherlands government regulations require that samples from severe crimes be stored for a maximum of 80 years.
In addition to the BiOS, NFI has already received and installed a Hamilton +4degC Sample Access Manager (SAM) system connected with a -80degC SAM system by a Rack Runner robot.
This will serve as a temporary solution while the BiOS is being constructed.
The new BiOS will replace the -80degC SAM system and be used as a long-term biorepository, while the +4degC SAM systems will be used for active case samples, providing access without freeze/thaw cycles.
The Institute has also acquired three Hamilton MICROLAB STAR Automated Liquid Handling Workstations, including the new AutoLys STAR system for sample lysis and DNA Extraction.
NFI is currently validating DNA extraction protocols on the STAR platform.
One million extracted crime scene samples will ultimately be stored in two-dimensional bar-coded tubes in the BiOS system at NFI.
The 2-D bar codes, permanently etched on the tubes, ensure accurate sample tracking and support the overall security of the system.
"We plan to add about 120,000 tubes per year and we expect the new BiOS to meet our capacity needs for at least seven years," said Thomas Ondracek, team leader of the QA team at the human biological traces department at NFI.
BiOS is Hamilton Storage Technologies' third-generation automated system, designed for ultra-low temperature storage of sensitive biological samples.
