DNA Testing Has Begun

 

 

            After six months of validation studies, Human Identification Technologies, Inc. (HIT, Inc.) has begun DNA testing in criminal matters. The much anticipated private DNA testing and consulting laboratory is now ready to put their forensic scientists to work testing biological evidence from all over the United States. The HIT, Inc. laboratory provides the following services: STR DNA testing (nuclear DNA testing), mitochondrial DNA testing, consultation, case review services, and training for judges, attorneys and police agencies.

            “We have been receiving phone calls for the last four months asking if we are ready to begin testing for various types of criminal cases. We’ve had to hold off until our protocols were in place and validation was completed.” confirmed Blaine Kern, CEO of HIT, Inc. Kern has conducted DNA tests on a variety of evidence types and is a member of both the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the California Association of Criminalists. Kern retired from the San Bernardino County (California) Sheriff’s Department Crime Laboratory in December of 2004 to pursue this unique opportunity. “There have been numerous 16 hour days of working in the laboratory preparing for casework. Now it’s time to go to work for the attorneys and law enforcement professionals who have been eagerly awaiting our acceptance of their cases,” says Mehul Anjaria, the vice president and laboratory director of HIT, Inc. Anjaria’s experience consists of 1 1⁄2 years at the Orange County (California) Sheriff-Coroner’s Laboratory and 7 1/2 years at the San Bernardino County (California) Sheriff’s Department Crime Laboratory. Prior to joining HIT, Inc., he served as the DNA technical leader at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Crime Laboratory. Anjaria is certified by the American Board of Criminalists in both general criminalistics and in the molecular biology specialty. In addition to his laboratory experience, he has been trained by American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) to inspect laboratories seeking accreditation and is qualified to audit DNA laboratories according to the FBI’s Quality Assurance Audit Document. Anjaria will also use the new HIT, Inc. laboratory to broaden the use of mitochondrial DNA testing.

            Kern and Anjaria have gone to extreme measures to ensure the working components of the HIT, Inc. laboratory will meet the highest accreditation standards currently available for DNA testing laboratories. This preparation is crucial when life and liberty are at stake. “There was no way we were going to try to get by with the bare minimum in our validation. We are committed to raising the bar for what is possible from private laboratories, which meant a lengthy validation process.” added Anjaria.

            The California justice system should see immediate results from the DNA testing of HIT, Inc. Currently there are only a few options available for police agencies and attorneys in need of forensic DNA testing. In fact, a majority of the private forensic DNA laboratories are outside of California. Mr. Kern states...“There are only a few forensic DNA experts for the attorneys to turn to. Now there is a technologically advanced laboratory available in Southern California. We are looking forward to assisting professionals in need of our highly specialized DNA testing.”

            Due to the immediate demand for their DNA testing services and their standard turnaround time of two to four weeks on testing, HIT, Inc. has begun recruiting forensic scientists. “We weren’t sure what kind of response we would see when we posted our openings for forensic scientists. When we are recruiting, we have a specific type of candidate we are looking for. We were pleasantly surprised when nearly 100 people inquired about the position,” states Anjaria. He found an experienced forensic scientist who will begin soon and he’s already begun recruiting for the next scientist. HIT, Inc. plans to recruit at least 25 scientists over the next five years, which will increase the number of forensic scientists within California by approximately 30 percent.

            The HIT, Inc. laboratory is thrilled to put the validation process behind them and begin casework. It is only a matter of time before their forensic scientists are asked to testify on their findings in a courtroom setting. In their minds, the science will prevail as Human Identification Technologies, Inc. continues to seek...”Genetic Justice.”