Laboratory - Cross-Border Processing

Strict safe practice procedures are in place in the laboratory to ensure the care of samples during processing. All revised techniques and protocols which have been developed in Genex Diagnostics are subjected to rigorous internal testing.

The laboratory currently has established and documented procedures that minimize loss, contamination, and/or deleterious change of the original sample. The Policy and Procedures Manual also provide procedures, which ensure that sample/extract(s) are stored in a manner that minimizes degradation.

The precautions pertaining to the proper care and control of samples during processing include:

• Samples are not exhausted with initial analysis. This safe practice ensures that sufficient samples remain for retesting and reconfirmation.
• Exhibits and known samples are handled independently in physically separate and specified clean areas designated for that purpose. A unidirectional flow of sample and technical personnel is followed.
• Documented cleaning and decontamination of sample analysis areas is employed.
• All extraction procedures are performed under a dedicated sample handling containment hood.
• Equipment for DNA extraction, including micropipettes, aerosol resistant pipette tips, scalpels, scissors, and extraction reagents are dedicated for use in DNA extraction and are cleaned or disposed of where appropriate.
• Disposable gloves and surgical masks are worn during extraction and amplification procedures.
• Dedicated lab coats are worn for pre-amplification sample handing, and when working in the extraction area.
• Scissors/scalpels are cleaned with alcohol swabs after cutting each evidence sample.
• Pipette tips are changed between each sample even when dispensing reagents.
• To reduce the potential of aerosols, the last bit of sample from a pipette is not "blown out".

Using the latest technology, the DNA testing method offered by Genex is highly sensitive and only minute amounts of sample are required for testing. As a result, even after testing, the integrity of the original sample is unchanged. As a result, the amount of sample obtained from a single collection is more than adequate for future testing if required.