The use of PCR change agent model to help reduce the backlog of forensic DNA specimens

Forensic DNA laboratories are often overwhelmed with high-volume backlog of biological specimens. Such backlogs are partially responsible for overcrowding of the jails. The backlog is a worldwide phenomenon. The reduction of the backlog will require new DNA forensic technologies and new approaches to forensic DNA laboratory management. Standard operating procedures, equipment and lengthy training of the forensic DNA scientists using those procedures and equipment are blamed for the backlog. The DNA section of crime laboratory uses a number of procedures and equipment that must be validated through standard validation process. In addition, each forensic DNA scientist is responsible for validating the procedures and equipment independently for admissibility in court. The companies that develop new equipment and DNA kits offer workshops in the use and validation of these equipment and DNA procedures. Forensic DNA workshops aimed at training forensic DNA scientists, though quite helpful, take days to weeks thus taking them out of the laboratory which exacerbates the backlog situations. In addition, the workshops are not designed to educate forensic DNA scientists who can train other forensic DNA scientists, therefore, a number of forensic DNA scientists from the same laboratory have to attend similar workshops to learn new technologies before those can be validated and adopted. The authors propose a PCR change agent model to train forensic DNA scientists. The PCR change agent model addresses the shortcomings of the current DNA validation procedures and reduces the DNA backlog. A survey of forensic DNA scientists revealed a general consensus for the use of PCR change agents in reducing the DNA backlog.