New DNA technologies generate results from challenging forensic samples
September 23, 2016
NEW ORLEANS, LA, Sept. 23, 2016 — InnoGenomics Technologies today announced the commercial release of new DNA testing kits that enable forensic DNA laboratories to successfully analyze challenging biological samples that frequently fail with traditional systems. The suite of new products include:
- InnoTyper 21, a DNA typing system that can obtain discriminating results from extremely challenging and degraded samples.
- InnoQuant HY, a highly sensitive and informative quantitative assay for comprehensive sample assessment and increased downstream DNA profile recovery.
Forensic experts report that approximately 25-35% of all DNA evidence samples fail to produce useful results with current standard methods, frequently due to DNA degradation or low DNA quantity.1 InnoGenomics has addressed this problem with its innovative DNA quantification and genotyping systems, developed with funding support from the National Science Foundation and in collaboration with leading forensic scientists and institutions.
Unlike other recent advances using “next generation” sequencing methods, these new technologies do not require implementation of new instrumentation and analysis workflows—significant hurdles for most forensic laboratories.
“After many years of R&D and validation, we are extremely proud to offer these new solutions to the forensic community,” said Dr. Sudhir Sinha, President and CEO of InnoGenomics. “We believe these kits offer a practical and cost-effective way for human identification laboratories to significantly improve their capabilities.”
These powerful technological advancements have already generated valuable data using real forensic samples. A number of prominent collaborators have shown the ability to increase analysis success rates and obtain discriminating results from an array of challenging forensic samples, including degraded human remains, rootless hair shafts and paraffin embedded tissues.
Dr. Jose Lorente, Director of the University of Granada Genetic Identification Laboratory in Spain, said, “We have seen the power of both the InnoQuant and InnoTyper systems to get nuclear DNA results from very compromised samples, even those that are over 150 years old. These new technologies will help us get answers in some of our most difficult cases.”
The new kits leverage advances in the use of retrotransposable elements (REs), which are non-coding genomic DNA repeat sequences, or “mobile insertion elements,” comprising approximately 40% of the human genome. InnoGenomics’ proprietary technology overcomes a number of multiplexing challenges with REs to achieve high PCR efficiency and exceptional sensitivity, reproducibility and robustness.
Dr. Bruce Budowle, Director of the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) Center for Human Identification, said, “Our studies have shown that the InnoTyper 21 kit can recover informative profiles from extremely challenging skeletal remains that have failed to yield results using other methods. We are planning to implement the system and expect it to become an important tool for us.”
Results from internal and external validation studies will be presented at the International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI), Sept. 26-29 in Minneapolis, MN.
To learn more, please visit http://innogenomics.com/applications/forensic-genetics/
InnoGenomics Technologies is dedicated to the development of innovative genetic testing solutions that solve crimes and save lives. The company has developed novel patented technology that is scalable across a wide range of applications including forensic and missing person identification, relationship and ancestral ethno-geographic establishment. In the realm of molecular diagnostics, InnoGenomics is leveraging its core technology to develop a minimally invasive blood test for cancer detection and monitoring. For more information, please visit www.innogenomics.com.
1 Estimate based on market research including expert interviews and a 2013 survey of U.S. crime laboratories conducted by InnoGenomics.
Disclaimer: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1230352. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
