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FBI OKs Genetic Profiles Generated by Thermo Fisher Scientific Kit

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has approved the inclusion of genetic profiles generated by Thermo Fisher Scientific's Yfiler Plus PCR amplification kit into its Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the company announced today.

CODIS allows participating local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and forensic laboratories to electronically compare and exchange DNA profiles of people suspected of committing crimes. Last month, President Donald Trump signed legislation that permits genetic profiles generated with rapid DNA analysis instruments to be uploaded into CODIS.

According to Thermo Fisher, the FBI approval was based on data submitted by the Phoenix, Arizona police department that validated Yfiler Plus' ability to help solve crimes, particularly sexual assaults, by detecting short tandem repeats (STRs) found only on Y chromosomes. Analysis of evidence samples using traditional autosomal STR analysis is often difficult due to low amounts of male DNA present in a high background of female DNA, the company noted.

"Forensic customers need tools with high information recovery and premium performance for their casework," Rosy Lee, vice president and general manager of human identification at Thermo Fisher, said in a statement. "The Yfiler Plus kit was designed to meet these needs as evidenced by the role this chemistry has played to help solve many cases globally."