'Rapid DNA' analysis tool closer for FBI, but obstacles loom

The science of DNA analysis to identity individuals has led to a revolution in law enforcement, and the FBI, as well as the U.S. military, would like to see the development of portable "Rapid DNA" kits that authorized personnel could take into the field or use at booking stations to immediately have human DNA-based samples, such as blood, analyzed to determine identity.

Today DNA profiling is an extensive lab procedure and portable Rapid DNA kits don't exist -- but they may be getting closer. An effort led by Lockheed Martin in partnership with ZyGEM's MicroLab laboratories in Charlottesville, Va., may yield one of the first "Rapid DNA"-styled kits for government review by next year. Dubbed RapI.D., this portable kit would have to undergo strenuous testing by federal authorities, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology, plus the FBI itself would have to be sure a clear legal procedures would be in place to use it.

The world of Rapid DNA (or R-DNA as it's often called) is probably still years off, but at this week's Biometric Consortium Conference, where the topic of R-DNA was discussed, the prospect of real-world portable DNA test kits that can spit out a DNA profile in less than an hour was gathering attention.

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The science of DNA analysis to identity individuals has led to a revolution in law enforcement, and the FBI, as well as the U.S. military, would like to see the development of portable "Rapid DNA" kits that authorized personnel could take into the field or use at booking stations to immediately have human DNA-based samples, such as blood, analyzed to determine identity.

Today DNA profiling is an extensive lab procedure and portable Rapid DNA kits don't exist -- but they may be getting closer. An effort led by Lockheed Martin in partnership with ZyGEM's MicroLab laboratories in Charlottesville, Va., may yield one of the first "Rapid DNA"-styled kits for government review by next year. Dubbed RapI.D., this portable kit would have to undergo strenuous testing by federal authorities, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology, plus the FBI itself would have to be sure a clear legal procedures would be in place to use it.

The world of Rapid DNA (or R-DNA as it's often called) is probably still years off, but at this week's Biometric Consortium Conference, where the topic of R-DNA was discussed, the prospect of real-world portable DNA test kits that can spit out a DNA profile in less than an hour was gathering attention.

The RapI.D. portable kit detailed by John Mears, director of biometric solutions at Lockheed Martin, during his presentation at the Biometric Consortium Conference this week, is capable of analyzing human DNA in the way needed for investigative purposes in about an hour. In the near future, it's expected RapI.D. will be doing analysis in about 45 minutes, he said.

The ruggedized toolkit, which fits in a case, needs a human blood sample inserted to perform micro-analysis through a combination of a specialized chipset working with controllers, a laser, an optical detector, cartridge interface and pump, to spit out the kind of DNA analysis that law enforcement depends on in investigations.

"You can actually do sample in and out in one device," said Dr. James Landers, chief scientific officer at MicroLab, who is also professor at the University of Virginia in the fields of chemistry, mechanical engineering and pathology, of chemistry.

In his presentation at the conference, Dr. Landers said he sees clear advancement in the technology he is working on with Lockheed Martin, and said there will probably be other contenders for what's called R-DNA in the future, too. "The idea of 60 minutes turnaround time is feasible," he noted.