Abstract：
The importance of DNA evidence for gaining investigative leads demands a fast workflow for forensic DNA profiling performed in large volumes. Therefore, we developed software solutions for automated DNA profile analysis, contamination check, major donor inference, DNA database (DDB) comparison and reporting of the conclusions. This represents the Fast DNA IDentification Line (FIDL) and this study describes its development, validation and implementation in criminal casework at the authors\' institute. This first implementation regards single donor profiles and major contributors to mixtures. The validation included testing of the software components on their own and examination of the performance of different DDB search strategies. Furthermore, end-to-end testing was performed under three conditions: (1) testing of scenarios that can occur in DNA casework practice, (2) tests using three months of previous casework data, and (3) testing in a casework production environment in parallel to standard casework practices. The same DNA database candidates were retrieved by this automated line as by the manual workflow. The data flow was correct, results were reproducible and robust, results requiring manual analysis were correctly flagged, and reported results were as expected. Overall, we found FIDL valid for use in casework practice in our institute. The results from FIDL are automatically reported within three working days from receiving the trace sample. This includes the time needed for registration of the case, DNA extraction, quantification, polymerase chain reaction and capillary electrophoresis. FIDL itself takes less than two hours from intake of the raw CE data to reporting. Reported conclusions are one of five options: (1) candidate retrieved from DDB, (2) no candidate retrieved from DDB, (3) high evidential value with regards to reference within the case, (4) results require examination of expert, or (5) insufficient amount of DNA obtained to generate a DNA profile. In our current process, the automated report is sent within three working days and a complete report, with confirmation of the FIDL results, and signed by a reporting officer is sent at a later time. The signed report may include additional analyses regarding e.g. minor contributors. The automated report with first case results is quickly available to the police enabling them to act upon the DNA results prior to receiving the full DNA report. This line enables a uniform and efficient manner of handling large numbers of traces and cases and provides high value investigative leads in the early stages of the investigation.
摘要：
DNA证据对于获得调查线索的重要性要求大量进行法医DNA分析的快速工作流程。因此,我们开发了自动化DNA谱分析的软件解决方案，污染检查,主要捐赠者推断，DNA数据库（DDB）的比较和报告的结论。这代表了快速DNA鉴定线（FIDL），本研究描述了它的发展，作者研究所刑事案件工作中的验证和实施。该第一实施方式涉及单一供体概况和混合物的主要贡献者。验证包括单独测试软件组件以及检查不同DDB搜索策略的性能。此外，端到端测试在三个条件下进行：（1）测试DNA案例工作实践中可能发生的场景，(2)使用三个月以前的案例数据进行测试，和（3）在案例工作生产环境中与标准案例工作实践并行进行测试。与手动工作流程一样，通过该自动化生产线检索相同的DNA数据库候选物。数据流是正确的，结果具有可重复性和鲁棒性，需要手动分析的结果被正确标记，报告的结果与预期一致。总的来说,我们发现FIDL适用于我们研究所的案例工作实践。FIDL的结果在收到痕量样品后的三个工作日内自动报告。这包括登记案件所需的时间，DNA提取,量化，聚合酶链反应和毛细管电泳。FIDL本身从输入原始CE数据到报告不到两个小时。报告的结论是五个选项之一：(1)从DDB检索到的候选，（2）没有从DDB中检索到候选人，(三)案件参照的证据价值高的，（4）结果需要专家的检查，或(5)获得的DNA量不足以产生DNA谱。在我们目前的进程中,自动报告在三个工作日内发送，并提交一份完整的报告，在确认FIDL结果后，并由报告官员签名，稍后发送。签署的报告可以包括关于例如次要贡献者的附加分析。带有首例结果的自动报告可快速提供给警察，使他们能够在收到完整的DNA报告之前对DNA结果采取行动。这条生产线能够以统一有效的方式处理大量的痕迹和案件，并在调查的早期阶段提供高价值的调查线索。
