Federal DNA Database Unit LE – Law Enforcement

The Federal DNA Database Unit (FDDU) aids investigations through hit confirmations against individuals whose profiles are in the National DNA Index System (NDIS).

Agencies submit blood or buccal (cheek) samples to the unitfrom individuals who are required by law to do so. These include individuals:

FDDU then produces a DNA profile for each of these individuals and uploads it to the NDIS, which is part of the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).

These known DNA profiles are then searched against unknown forensic profiles from crime scenes across the country. If a match is identified, the casework laboratory can request FDDU to confirm the offender sample DNA profile.

Once the profile is confirmed, FDDU will release the subject's personal identifying information back to the casework laboratory. This information can then be passed on to investigators in the hopes of apprehending the perpetrator.Thanks to law enforcement agenciesand theirsample submissions, FDDU has uploaded over one million profiles to NDIS and has aided thousands of investigations.

Under the overall direction of the FDDU chief:

On a compliance level, the FDDU is supported by teams of DNA technical specialists and DNA program specialists who have critical responsibilities within the unit for ensuring the quality assurance and quality control of analytical testing, as well as conformance of database operations with established procedural requirements.

Administratively, the unit is supported by a team of management and program analysts with responsibilities for budgetary execution, procurement, inventory, and logistical applications. The unit relies heavily upon an information technology team to support the unit network and overall infrastructure backbone that drives the various operational applications.

From a technology perspective, a DNALaboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is critical for the automated development of specimen works lists, controlling the stepwise progression of each sample through the entire analytical process. The FDDU uses robotic systems in the laboratory to achieve high-throughput processing, allowing for a day-through-evening uninterrupted workflow without human intervention and maximum operational efficiency. A sophisticated software analysis tool (expert system) permits an automated review of resulting DNA data with a reduced level of scientist intervention, increasing throughput rate while consistently meeting or exceeding required performance measures.

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Federal DNA Database Unit LE - Law Enforcement