The Cayman Islands Hospital’s Forensic Science Laboratory closer to starting a DNA testing lab with the arrival of analysis equipment.
Jonathan Faris, the forensic DNA specialist who will run the lab, said it won’t be fully operational until later in the year.
The technician who will install the equipment is expected around the second week of March.
‘The installation takes three days, which includes diagnostics and some calibration,’ Dr. Faris said.
He wants the person who will provide training on the proper use of the equipment will come to Cayman the following week. Training will take three or four days, Dr. Faris said.
The installation will be done through Bioanalytic Instruments Inc. of Puerto Rico, through which the equipment was ordered. The actual manufacturer, California-based Applied Biosystems, which is represented by the Puerto Rican company, will supply the trainer.
Once installation and training are complete, the next phase of the process can take place, Dr. Faris said.
‘I will then be able to start to do my validation studies on my instruments. Hopefully, I will have the database samples up and running by April. I’m still hopeful we will be a full-service forensic DNA laboratory by the middle to the third quarter of this year,’ he added.
The lab will process database samples from arrested individuals.
Eventually, the facility will be able to offer local DNA analysis of crime-scene evidence, according to a GIS press release.
‘The nature of the samples involved calls for a well-established and proven laboratory. We hope to have our accreditation in place for this kind of thing by the end of this year,’ Dr. Faris said.
In addition, the DNA lab will handle paternity cases. About 100 of these tests are sent overseas each year.
Some drug testing has been done in the Bahamas. After weighing and screening the drugs in Cayman, forensic scientist David Schudel accompanied the samples and personally finished the analysis on equipment there. All of these tests are now performed in Cayman, Dr. Schudel added.
He explained that urine samples collected by the police for suspicious consumption as well as DUI blood tests are still being sent to a lab in Florida, pending the final stages of the restoration of the forensic facility in Cayman.
Dr. Schudel outlined the complicated process to establish a DNA laboratory.
‘Setting up a DNA laboratory is an extremely complex and drawn-out procedure.
‘First, there have to be certain policies and procedures in place, and then these have to be accredited to ensure the quality and consistency of the laboratory’s findings. Setting up a DNA laboratory anywhere generally takes a year from deciding you want to have a DNA testing facility, to having analysis being done,’ Dr. Schudel said.
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