Capacity Enhancement for YCSO Forensic Biology Lab

The York County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Biology Laboratory is a local forensic laboratory that is part of the York County Sheriff’s Office and funded by York County in South Carolina. York county is comprised of eight agencies which all may use the services of the laboratory. The York County Sheriff’s Office requests funding from the FY24 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program to increase the capacity of the Forensic Biology Laboratory to process and increase the capacity to process more DNA samples for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The objective is to increase the number of CODIS eligible samples analyzed in casework and reduce turnaround time for CODIS entry.

Funding from this grant will be used to complete a validation project for a robotic liquid handler. In addition, funds will be used to offer required annual training, training to improve efficiency, maintain accreditation, and provide maintenance coverage for instrumentation. A software upgrade for DNA data analysis will promote more efficient processing of genetic analyzer data and upgrades to the Forensic Biology Laboratory information management system (LIMS) worksheets are necessary. Finally, an integration between the laboratory’s LIMS system and quality assurance software will promote efficiency in recording information that supports accreditation efforts. The outcomes of this award will support long-term capacity enhancement, meeting accreditation requirements, meeting the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Quality Assurance Standards, and maintain capacity enhancing equipment.