Rapid DNA Technology: A Boon to Forensic DNA Typing The FBI defines Rapid DNA as “the fully automated (hands free) process of developing a CODIS Core Loci STR profile from a reference sample swab. The swab in - profile out process consists of automated extraction, amplification, separation, detection, and allele calling without human intervention”. Modified Rapid DNA analysis describes the automated (hands-free) process of developing a CODIS Core STR profile from a known reference sample. This “swab in – profile out” process consists of automated extraction, amplification, separation, and detection without human intervention but requires human interpretation and technical review. Approval by : Formal approval not required if  validated in accordance with the  FBI Director’s Quality Assurance  Standards

1. Government Institute of Forensic Science,
Nagpur.
Guided By,
Dr. Archana Mahakalkar
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Forensic Biology
Govt. IFSc., Nagpur.
Rapid DNA Technology: A Boon to Forensic DNA Typing
Presented By,
Palash Mehar
M.Sc. Forensic Science Part-II (Sem-III)
Specialization:
Forensic Biology & Serology

2. INDEX
SR. NO. CONTENT
1. What is Rapid DNA ?
2. What is Modified Rapid DNA ?
3. Development of Rapid DNA
4. Types of samples used for analysis
5. Current Available Technologies
6. Working Process of Rapid DNA Technology
7. Challenges of Rapid DNA Technology
8. Advantages & Disadvantages of Rapid DNA Technology
9. Application of Rapid DNA in Forensic Science
10. Case Studies
11. Conclusion
12. References

3. What is Rapid DNA ?
The FBI defines Rapid DNA as
“the fully automated (hands free) process of developing a CODIS
Core Loci STR profile from a reference sample swab. The swab in -
profile out process consists of automated extraction, amplification,
separation, detection, and allele calling without human intervention”.

4. What is Modified Rapid DNA ?
Modified Rapid DNA analysis describes the automated (hands-free)
process of developing a CODIS Core STR profile from a known
reference sample. This “swab in – profile out” process consists of
automated extraction, amplification, separation, and detection without
human intervention but requires human interpretation and technical
review.
• Approval by : Formal approval not required if validated in accordance
with the FBI Director’s Quality Assurance Standards

5. Development of Rapid DNA
 The FBI established the Rapid DNA Program Office in 2010 to
facilitate the development and integration of Rapid DNA technology for
use by law enforcement.
 Instruments have been, and continue to be, tested and evaluated by the
FBI Laboratory and other federal agencies, such as the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Defence Forensic
Science Centre (formerly the Army Crime Laboratory).
 In January 2013, the manufacturers of the instruments attended a
SWGDAM meeting to discuss their instruments and obtain feedback on
validation. Because developmental validation is a crucial first step in the
commercial use of these instruments, SWGDAM, through its Rapid
DNA Committee, established a dialog with the manufacturers to assist
them in their validation efforts.

6. Contd...
 On August 18, 2017, The Rapid DNA Act of 2017 was passed by the US
government. The law outlines the standards and procedures governing the
use of Rapid DNA instrumentation. Requirements for training and quality
assurance are mandated by the FBI.
 The Rapid DNA Act establishes a system for the integration of Rapid DNA
instruments for use by law enforcement "to solve and prevent violent crimes
and other crimes, to exonerate the innocent, to prevent DNA analysis
backlogs". Unlike traditional DNA analysis, which can take weeks, Rapid
DNA analysis processes DNA samples in less than two hours.

7. Types of samples used for analysis
Reference Samples
• offender, arrestee, detainee or casework reference samples.
Other samples
• Cheek swabs, Bloodstains , Sexual assault kits,
• Cups, cans, and bottles
• Cigarette butts, gum, and drinking straws
• Steering wheels, guns, cell phones, and handled items
• Bones, Hair, Teeth, Semen, Muscle and tissue and Many
others

8. Currently Available Technologies
• The first fully automatic “swab in-profile out” RAPID DNA analysis
approved by FBI is the NetBio (http://netbio.com/) DNAscan Rapid DNA
Analysis™ (Network Biosystems).
• The two systems of NetBio, i.e., ANDE™ and DNAscan™, use a common
cotton swab for input of reference samples to be processed within 90 min by
the instruments.
• The currently used DNAscan 6C has the capability to analyze four samples
at 27 loci within 90 min.
DNA Scan 6C
Image Source: https://www.biometricupdate.com/201405/ge-
healthcare-life-sciences-and-netbio-announce-multi-lab-testing-of-
rapid-dna-technology
ANDE™
Image Source: https://www.ande.com/

9. Source:- https://www.thermofisher.com/content/dam/LifeTech/Documents/PDFs/HeinoTeifel-Partnership-in-Criminal-Justice.pdf

10. Source:- https://www.thermofisher.com/content/dam/LifeTech/Documents/PDFs/HeinoTeifel-Partnership-in-Criminal-Justice.pdf

11. What is the RapidHIT® ID?
Detection
PCR
Amplification
Dilution
DNA
Quantification
Cell Lysis/
DNA
Extraction
In Out
(Courtesy: David Shackleton, Key Forensic Services Ltd.
Implementation of the RapidHIT® ID for Reference Samples within the UK Criminal Justice System )

12. In Out
In
Out
What is the RapidHIT® ID?
(Courtesy: David Shackleton, Key Forensic Services Ltd.
Implementation of the RapidHIT® ID for Reference Samples within the UK Criminal Justice System )

13. Collect sample from
arrestee
Log sample into lab’s
evidence system
National DNA
Database search
Log sample into Police National
Computer system
Transport sample to
forensic lab
Arrestee is
released on bail
Place sample in
secure store @ Lab
Find and re-
arrest suspect
Report database
result to police
Life of a PACE Sample
Meanwhile
Process through Lab
(Courtesy: David Shackleton, Key Forensic Services Ltd.
Implementation of the RapidHIT® ID for Reference Samples within the UK Criminal Justice System )

14. Collect sample from
arrestee
Log sample into lab’s
evidence system
National DNA
Database search
Log sample into Police National
Computer system
Transport sample to
forensic lab
Arrestee is
released on bail
Place sample in
secure store @ Lab
Find and re-
arrest suspect
Report database
result to police
Meanwhile
Process through Lab
Working Process of Rapid DNA Technology
(Courtesy: David Shackleton, Key Forensic Services Ltd.
Implementation of the RapidHIT® ID for Reference Samples within the UK Criminal Justice System )

15. Sample Cartridge & Primary Cartridge
• 150 or 250 samples
• RFID tagged
(Expiry/Usage)
• Contains
• Lysis Buffer
• Capillary array
• Gel syringe
• CE Buffers
• Waste
(Source: David Shackleton, Key Forensic Services Ltd.
Implementation of the RapidHIT® ID for Reference Samples within the UK Criminal Justice System )

16. Challenges of Rapid DNA Technology
• All sample types mostly the tough samples, i.e., bone and teeth,
are difficult to be processed using the currently available RAPID
DNA technology.
• Some samples also require pre-processing limiting the sample to
result nature of the technology.
• The technology is yet to reach a ~100% result in all the samples
tested.
• Non-cost-effectiveness in comparison to the traditional DNA
technology for varied nature of the forensic case samples.
• Pendency and backlog of cases may result in degraded samples,
where the current technology is of limited applications

17. Advantages of Rapid DNA Technology
 Samples can be obtained and analyzed at the site, eliminating transport time
from site to lab and maximizing the opportunity to generate results before
remains become significantly degraded;
Produced accurate, reproducible, precise and sensitive results
Successful run: CODIS-ready file with profile information was generated
Inhibitors: no effect on ability to obtain a full profile
No instances of contamination were observed
 Concordance testing: success

18. Contd...
 Nontechnical users can generate STR results, dramatically expanding the
number of samples that can be processed in a given time; and
 Results become available in under 2 h with simplified and easy to use data
management software to enable real-time database searching for identity and
kinship matches, expediting identification of the deceased and family
reunification.

19. Disadvantages of Rapid DNA Technology
Crime scene samples may be mixtures, contain low quantity or degraded DNA;
The FBI Director’s Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing
Laboratories requires quantitation of forensic samples;
There are currently no approved Expert Systems for crime scene samples; and
Law enforcement collecting crime scene samples do not have the education,
training or experience necessary to assess the crime scene evidence and determine
the type of testing to achieve the optimal results from the DNA sample.

20. Applications of Rapid DNA Technology in Forensic
Science
Law Enforcement
Rape & Sexual Assault
Human Trafficking

21. Contd...
Disaster Victim Identification
Immigration
Military & Counter –
Terrorism

22. Case Studies
Case Study No. #1
Using the RapidHITID System, a nearly full profile was produced from
a fire victim’s body in Panamá
At Panamá’s national crime lab in 2017, the Instituto Medicina Legal y
Ciencias Forenses (IMELCF), medical technologists were able to identify
a victim of a devastating home fire. Taking a sample from a crude clavicle
bone extraction—using no decalcification step—the lab technicians
processed it using the RapidHITID System. A DNA profile of 20 of 24
loci was identified within hours. The profile enabled a kinship
comparison to the victim’s brother to confirm the victim’s identity.

23. Case Study No.#2 (Investigative Lead Testing)
Richland County, South Carolina Sheriff’s Department is the first in the
US to use the RapidHIT system to fight crime.
On the morning of Tuesday, July 29, 2014, a suspect in an armed
robbery/attempted murder committed earlier that same morning was taken into
custody after fleeing a routine traffic stop. The shooting victim from that
morning had struggled with his assailant, so police ran a sample from the
suspect’s clothing with the RapidHITsystem and in less than 2 hours,
identified a DNA match with the victim, providing evidence that helped lead
to the suspect’s arrest.
“The RapidHITsystem allowed the investigator to focus on his suspect. But
more importantly, it gets the criminal off the streets quickly, which prohibits
them from committing additional crimes.”
-Leon Lott, Richland County Sheriff

24. Conclusion
RAPID DNA technology possesses a definitive advantage for its use in
definitive scenario such as at the crime scene. Due to ease in operation and
complete automation, processing of the samples at crime scene or police
stations may not require highly skilled personnel besides interpretation of
the obtained results. Regarding cost of the instrument and its associated
consumables, if we include the operational as well as infrastructure cost,
the RAPID DNA technology is highly useful for processing fewer samples
with the requirement of urgent results for investigation purpose. Though
the technology has improved a lot since its inception, it is still not so useful
in challenging forensic samples. Hence, the technology works fine for
database generation and analysis of reference samples in a short period of
time.

25. REFERENCES
1) Davidowitz, S. (2020). 23andEveryone: Privacy Concerns with Law
Enforcement’s Use of Genealogy Databases to Implicate Relatives in
Criminal Investigations. Retrieved 12 December 2020, from
https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/blr/vol85/iss1/8
2) Davidowitz, S. (2020). 23andEveryone: Privacy Concerns with Law
Enforcement’s Use of Genealogy Databases to Implicate Relatives in
Criminal Investigations. Retrieved 16 July 2020, from
https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/blr/vol85/iss1/8
3) Scudder, N., Robertson, J., Kelty, S., Walsh, S., & McNevin, D. (2018).
Crowdsourced and crowdfunded: the future of forensic DNA?. Australian
Journal Of Forensic Sciences, 52(2), 235-241. doi:
10.1080/00450618.2018.1486456
4) Kim, Alice, "The Evaluation of the RapidHITTM 200 on Degraded
Biological Samples" (2019). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem
Reports. 7408. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/7408

26. REFERENCES
6) Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods Position Statement on Rapid
DNA Analysis
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/4344b0_f84df0465a2243218757fac1a1ccffea.pdf
7) Sexual Assault. (undated). Retrieved 10 December 2020, from
https://www.ande.com/sexual-assault/
8) Government & Immigration. (undated). Retrieved 11 December 2020, from
https://www.ande.com/government-and-immigration/
9) Teifel, H. Partnership in Criminal Justice: Answers When You Need Them Most.
Retrieved 12 December 2020, from
https://www.thermofisher.com/content/dam/LifeTech/Documents/PDFs/HeinoTeifel-
Partnership-in-Criminal-Justice.pdf
10) Saskia Verheij, Lindy Clarisse, Margreet van den Berge, Titia Sijen. 2013. RapidHIT™
200, a promising system for rapid DNA analysis.Forensic Science International:
Genetics Supplement Series 4. e254–e255. https://www.fsigeneticssup.com/article/
11) Staff report. "Sheriff's first in nation to use RapidHITDNA to put criminal behind bars."
Web. The State, December 9, 2015. thestate.com/news/local/article48816510

27. Thank
You!