AB4-SB Develop and submit a plan to use new personnel, equipment, and technology to expand the scope of services provided by the Crime Lab.

Support Bureau
Strategic Direction
  • 3: Operational Improvements
    •
  • 4: Technology Development and Infrastructure Expansion
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    Responsible Party - Lead
  • Forensic Lab Manager
    •
    Division / Unit / Section
  • Forensic Science Division (AB)
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    Funding Status
  • Funding Needed
    •
    Accomplishments

    The Crime Laboratory has grant funding that will allow us to begin the process of validating Y-screening for sexual assault kit examinations.  The Crime Laboratory received three QiaCubes on November 22, 2019.  On November 25, 2019, a factory representative responded to the Crime Laboratory to set up the QiaCubes.  The Crime Laboratory was awarded $55,000.00 in grant funding to validate the QiaCubes.  The contract for validation services has not been finalized, and the grant project period closes on December 31, 2019.  The vendor originally stated that they needed a contract in place by August 2019 in order to meet the grant closure date.  It appears that we may have lost $55,000.00 in grant funding due to a slow procurement and legal review process.  With that said, we do not want to lose the grant funding, and there is a ninety-day closure period for the grant, so we are still trying to schedule the QiaCube validation We also have grant funding to validate STRMIX (probabilistic genotyping); however, because of new software updates that will be necessary for this project, and while awaiting additional guidance from the Texas Forensic Science Commission regarding STRMIX (probabilistic genotyping), this project is on hold.
    Estimated Date of Completion
  • FY21
    •
    Start Date
    10/1/16
    End Date
    9/30/21