FY2023 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction (CBER) Formula Program, County of Alameda, California

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory Forensic Biology Unit (ACSO) faces challenges, especially with increased demand of its casework services.  The ACSO services the County of Alameda, not including the city of Oakland; this area represents a population of approximately 1,200,000 people.  The ACSO as well as its customers will benefit from the proposed project as the ACSO continues to 1) modernize the laboratory; 2) increase casework capacity; and 3) monitor for efficiency improvements. 

The purpose of this project is to increase sample capacity and casework turnaround time by supporting the ACSO’s long term objective in implementing the DNA Analysis Module in the ACSO’s laboratory information management system (LIMS). 

The primary activities of this proposal are to: move the ACSO’s BEAST LIMS from a point server to a .net capability; have a DNA Analysis Module customized that utilizes the LIMS database, barcodes, and graphical user interfaces; and, to attend Porter Lee’s BEAST User Group to learn general LIMS administration, troubleshooting, and building a matrix.

Three attainable objectives are:

Objective 1:  Increase laboratory interoperability and workflow management by moving the BEAST LIMS from a localized server to the .net capability.

Objective 2:  Streamline accessibility of protocols, worksheets, and notetaking through BEAST for the ACSO.

Objective 3:  Attend focused training on the BEAST LIMS to better contribute and program for the longterm advances of the system. 

Achievement of these goals will increase sample capacity and casework turnaround time by supporting the ACSO’s LIMS to increase efficiency, accuracy, and casework throughput.  This approach will increase sample capacity and workflow efficiency that will have a long-term sustaining effect on decreased turnaround times for sample processing, data analysis, and case reporting.