{"id":14883,"date":"2021-03-23T14:23:11","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T14:23:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/?p=14883"},"modified":"2022-04-14T08:25:40","modified_gmt":"2022-04-14T08:25:40","slug":"rapid-dna-forging-partnerships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/rapid-dna-forging-partnerships\/","title":{"rendered":"Rapid DNA: Forging Partnerships"},"content":{"rendered":"

The TV crime drama CSI<\/em> delighted over 17 million viewers during its time on-air<\/a> and gave viewers a glimpse, albeit a glamorized one, into the fascinating world of forensic investigations. Each one-hour episode captivated audiences as dramatic crimes were processed in state-of-the-art crime labs with futuristic instrumentation that produced almost instantaneous results and led to the perpetrator\u2019s emotional confession.<\/p>\n

As forensic scientists, we are all too familiar with CSI<\/em>\u2019s effect on our work and expert testimonies. It\u2019s challenging to explain to juries that rising caseloads and sample backlogs mean that not every piece of evidence can be tested, or that the flashy instrumentation either doesn\u2019t exist or is just too expensive for the average crime lab. Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) is one of many forensic agencies grappling with the effects of CSI<\/em>. Serving 200 law enforcement agencies across a state of 7.6 million people, AZDPS felt the increasing pressure of seemingly endless DNA requests and an ever-growing backlog. Something needed to be done, and the team had a vision: How could they combine the latest technology, world-class training, and collaborative support to forge lasting partnerships between the crime lab and their various law enforcement agencies?<\/p>\n