Molly Yesho

FN 316 01
10/30/2017
Integenx Rapid DNA System

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is what makes each individual unique. DNA is made

up of four different nitrogenous bases, sugar, and phosphate groups. The four nitrogenous

bases are: adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. These bases will pair up, but adenine

only pairs with thymine and cytosine only pairs with guanine (1). While the pairings of

bases don’t vary, the order in which they pair in the DNA differs. The ordering is what

makes DNA different from person to person.

Since DNA is unique to each individual, it has high value in the forensics world. If

DNA is left at a crime scene, and it’s a good sample, the DNA can be analyzed. The profile of

the analyzed DNA can help to find a suspect. Typically, the analysis of DNA involves five

major steps: extraction, quantitation, amplification, separation, and data analysis.

Sometimes, this can be a lengthy process and it can take a while to acquire the results.

Rapid DNA is a new technique designed to help speed up the process of DNA

analysis. The Rapid DNA is an initiative started by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

and is a fully automated process. The goal of this initiative is to shirk the analysis process

down to two hours, in which a known sample from the suspect is compared to unknown

samples in the CODIS database. These unknown samples would be from unsolved crimes.

The sample from the suspect is a buccal swab that is taken during the booking process (2).

With this initiative, it would be possible to include the suspect as a source of DNA obtained

from a crime in a few short hours. This would allow investigators to know if they have a

possible suspected in a much shorter time frame, so that they can focus their efforts

appropriately.
 The Integenx company has developed an instrument using rapid DNA technology.

The Integenx RapidHIT system is fully automated and the GlobalFiler Express cartridges

are used to upload the resulting profile to the CODIS database (3). This RapidHIT System

starts with using the “gold standard” extraction of the DNA from the substrate. Once

extracted, the DNA undergoes PCR, or Polymerase Chain Reaction (3). PCR falls under the

amplification step of the DNA analysis process. The PCR process involves the careful

heating and cooling of the sample DNA over and over to create copies of the targeted

nitrogenous base sequence (4). This process ideally creates billions of copies of the DNA so

that there is enough for the later processes. After the PCR process, the DNA undergoes

Capillary Electrophoresis (3). Capillary electrophoresis, or CE, is a method used to separate

out the DNA. CE uses an electrokinetic injection to remove the negatively charged DNA out

of solution and into a capillary filled with a polymer (4). The smaller molecules are able to

move through the polymer faster and further than larger molecules, resulting in the

separation.

This RapidHIT system can take the DNA through the entire process detailed above

in less than two hours. This system has the capability to function with up to seven different

samples at the same time. RapidHIT has been tested to obtain more than 90% consistent

results containing the CODIS core loci (3). This particular system has been testing using

both buccal swabs and blood stains and works with small amounts of each.

The RapidHIT system has benefits for forensic DNA analysis. The first major

advantage is that the DNA analysis results are produced in less than two hours (3). This is a

huge help to investigators. With traditional methods, it could take months to obtain a DNA
profile. With the results in two hours, investigators can focus their attention appropriately

since they will be able to determine a lot faster if their arrestee is a source of the DNA. In

addition, as detailed in the Rapid DNA initiative, the known sample of DNA from the

arrestee is done right in the booking process, and started in the Rapid DNA system

immediately (2). Because of this quick turn around, the DNA is a lot fresher when analyzed.

This means that there is no chance that the sample is degraded, there’s less opportunity for

contamination, and, in cases where there isn’t enough DNA from the swab, the arrestee is

still nearby to immediately obtain another sample. Without this quick source-to-

instrument process, the process could be delayed, which prolongs getting the results even

longer.

As mentioned, the sample is fresh when put into the instrument. However, another

advantage to the RapidHIT system is that the sample may not need to be so fresh. When

profile results from a fresh sample were compared to profile results from a sample that

was one year old, there were no differences found in the profiles (3). So, even if the sample

cannot be ran right away, a slight aging of the swab would not have effects on the profile

obtained.

While it is questionable on whether the FBI has accepted the RapidHIT System for

use in the Rapid DNA initiative, the RapidHIT system has already been accepted in court

(3). The RapidHIT system can now be used to obtain a DNA profile and comparison, and the

results can be used in court to get a conviction. This helps investigators because not only

the results allow them to determine if they have the right suspect for the crime, but it also

allows them to use that information in court, without waiting longer for a DNA profile the

traditional way. This helps to expedite the process.

 The RapidHIT system also requires only three minutes of hands-on time when

running the sample. In some instances, this is an advantage. This limited hands-on time

frees up the analyst so that he/she can work on other things and get more done within a

day. However, this can also be seen as a disadvantage. With the fully automated system,

and less work for the analyst to do, some agencies might decide there is then an overall

need for less analysts, and then cut jobs. In any scenario, technology that cuts human jobs is

a disadvantage for the workers. For starters, some people may be laid off. Then, those who

are lucky enough to stay still might get a heavier workload due to fewer workers.

Therefore, the automated and limited hands-on time is either an advantage or

disadvantage, depending on how you look at it.

One disadvantage comes from initiative targeting a system that is done entirely in

the booking process. It is unclear if the system would require a qualified analyst to be

present. If not, then this could be problematic. A qualified analyst would be able to ensure

the results are accurate, and that the truly match. In addition, an analyst would be familiar

with the DNA analysis process, and be able to determine if everything functioned properly,

or if something failed within the machine. Someone other than a qualified analyst might not

be able to pick up on these discrepancies.

Another disadvantage is that the Rapid DNA initiative has not approved the

technology for use with crime scene samples (2). This means that DNA taken straight from

a scene cannot be used with a RapidHIT system and upload straight into CODIS. The

investigators can only take DNA from an arrestee and upload into CODIS. So while this can’t

do much help with current crimes, the technology can aid in solving older crimes, or even

cold cases.
 Rapid DNA and the RapidHIT system have a clear application within forensic DNA

analysis. However, there are other applications where they are beneficial. Another

application would be paternity testing. In a case where a child would need tested to

determine who the father is, the RapidHIT system would allow results quickly. Traditional

DNA testing for a paternity test can take some time. But with RapidHIT, these results could

also be obtained within two hours. In addition, instead of comparing the sample of DNA to

profiles in CODIS, a profile could just be uploaded into different databases. If the RapidHIT

system has the capability of uploading samples straight into a database, it would be easier,

and quicker to expand these databases and keep them up to date. This would be beneficial

for databases that include DNA of convicted felons, missing persons, etc.

Another possible application could be done with future research. Eventually, it may

be possible to analyze DNA and relate diseases to specific sequences or mutations in

specific regions. If the relation could be made, it may be possible to test an individual for

the disease and have an answer within the two-hour time frame. This would be beneficial

for patients with severe, fast progressing disease so that they can start treatment sooner.

The RapidHIT system is one type of instrument that utilizes the Rapid DNA

technology. While unclear if approved, the RapidHIT system definitely qualifies under the

FBI Rapid DNA initiative. The Rapid DNA initiative is helping to expedite the DNA analysis

process and get answers sooner for investigators. While the biggest advantage is the

massive time saving capability, there’s a huge disadvantage in that its fully automated and

may not require a DNA analyst to be present. But nonetheless, this advancement in

technology greatly impacts the field of forensic DNA analysis, as well as the other possible

applications.
References

1. National Library of Medicine. What is DNA? https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/basics/

dna (accessed Oct 28, 2017).

2. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Rapid DNA. https://www.fbi.gov/services/

laboratory/biometric-analysis/codis/rapid-dna (accessed Oct 28, 2017).

3. Integenx. RapidHIT System. https://integenx.com/rapidhit-system/ (accessed Oct

28, 2017).

4. Butler, John M. Fundamentals of Forensic DNA Typing, 1st ed.; Academic Press: San

Diego, 2010.