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Rapid DNA Technologies Make DNA Testing Routine during Booking

Phil Pulaski

· DNA Technologies,DNA Testing
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Phil Pulaski retired from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) after more than 33 years of service. He spent his last five years in the NYPD as Chief of Detectives, and oversaw 3,600 personnel citywide including more than 150 forensic scientists assigned to the Police Laboratory. Phil Pulaski has been the keynote speaker at events sponsored by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors and International Association for Identification. He also was a Commissioner on the US Department of Justice’s National Commission on Forensic Science. During the past 3 years, he has been at the forefront of the collaborative effort by local police departments and sheriff offices to successfully implement Rapid DNA technology in a non-laboratory environment.

Rapid DNA technology involves a fully automated process to analyze a cheek sample swab from a known individual and, when appropriate, a crime scene sample swab in order to develop a DNA profile in 2 hours without human intervention. The FBI has led the federal effort to develop and implement RAPID DNA testing of arrestee samples collected at central booking facilities. Recently, the FBI created the RAPID DNA Task Force to create guidance for the use of RAPID DNA technology by law enforcement personnel in a non-laboratory environment to analyze appropriate crime scene samples for non-CODIS use. Phil Pulaski is a member of the FBI RAPID DNA Task Force.

The Rapid DNA Act of 2017 sets out a mandate to test arrestees for DNA identification so that those wanted in connection with murders, rapes, and other serious crimes can be quickly identified as a routine part of the booking station process. During 2018, the ANDE RAPID DNA instrument that takes only 2 hours to develop a DNA profile achieved National DNA Index System (NDIS) approval from the FBI. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains forensic laboratories that utilize the ANDE Rapid DNA instrument, and is taking part in the central booking facility Rapid DNA pilot project being overseen by the FBI.