Tecan signs agreement with South African Police Service to provide a fully automated DNA typing system for national forensic databank
Tecan has signed an agreement with the South African Police Service to supply, install and provide customer support for its fully automated forensic DNA typing system.
Tecan's experience in automating genomics applications will play a central role in the operation of South Africa's national forensic DNA databank.
The €8.35 million contract was secured by Tecan's German subsidiary after an open invitation for international bids.
The project is financed by a European Union initiative to assist reconstruction and development in South Africa.
The South African national forensic databank contains DNA samples that may be analysed by electrophoresis to create DNA profiles.
Such methods have revolutionised forensic science by enabling drastic improvements in the identification of individuals whose samples are included in suspect databanks. Therefore, the government of the United States alone plans annual investments of US$60 million over the next five years to increase the capacity for DNA identification of state and local crime labs.
Tecan's solution, which is based on its large-scale Trac 3 system, will permit fully automated DNA typing from blood and other body fluid or from tissue samples collected at the scene of a crime.
In terms of size and throughput, the proposed installation for the South African Police Service is probably unrivalled by any similar systems currently in operation.
Martin von Lueder, president of Tecan Europe, remarked: "Tecan's extensive experience in automating a wide range of genomic applications, including those supporting the forensic sciences, was a key factor in our successful bid for this project.
"Our proven ability to develop and implement powerful customer solutions combined with our strengths in customer support and large-scale automation projects clearly differentiated our solution from the proposals of our competitors.
"The South African project is one of the first nationwide DNA forensic programs to be introduced in a non-academic setting".
Christo Weitz, senior superintendent of the South African Police Service forensic science laboratory, commented: "We are extremely pleased to have the support of the European Union and Tecan in this far-reaching project to improve the level of service that our facility is able to offer the people of South Africa.
"Undertakings of this sort protect civil liberties and help to ensure the operation and further development of a judicious legal system."
