Bode Technology uses RFID system to accurately track the entire process of DNA evidence processing
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Bode Technology, the world’s largest DNA analysis company, is now testing a set of RFID systems to manage DNA samples circulating in its supply chain, including laboratory sample storage and analysis. If this test-held in the company’s Virginia laboratory-progresses well, Bode Technology plans to use the system to track the more than 50,000 samples the company receives each year. So far, Bode sales and marketing director Randy Nagy said that the system reduces the time to manually record samples and their movement information, and provides better and more accurate sample movement trajectories and receiver information.
This Bode-RFID system is used to track physical evidence, such as weapons and DNA evidence, to establish and maintain complete electronic records of samples from crime scenes to laboratory testing to storage rooms. Electronic record data can be used in court proceedings, for example, if the court requires evidence of the location and time of the physical evidence in the past. This system is flexible in design (users can choose to set up to track physical evidence in specific areas, such as crime scenes or storage areas, laboratories, etc.). Moreover, the system is also used as a module of the existing laboratory information management (LIM) system, which stores and manages evidence-related data for municipal, state, and federal agencies.
The collected evidence is usually placed in a paper bag, carton or DNA kit. Each sample is assigned a unique reference number, which is either printed on a label attached to the surface of the paper bag in the form of a barcode, or manually marked on the paper bag . About 40% of law enforcement agencies currently use barcode labels, and the rest use handwritten labeling. Usually, law enforcement officials create a paper checklist with sample reference codes and related information. The list is sent to the forensic inspection company, such as Bode or in-house laboratory, along with the sample. Law enforcement officers at the crime scene, (later) forensic inspection companies or experimenters handling the sample-usually endorse their initials on the sample list to provide a tracking record of the person handling the sample. Law enforcement officers often record multiple physical evidence from the same crime scene on a list, such as several pieces of blood-stained clothing. However, this manual system is quite time-consuming, because manual records will have the risk of incorrect writing, such as the reverse order of numbers.
In the Bode physical evidence room, employees use RFID handhelds to find specific physical evidence
Another shortcoming of the manual system, according to Bode Technology senior product manager Andrew Singer, the staff handling the samples may have forgotten to sign the physical evidence or checklist. In this way, it is impossible to clearly understand all the personnel who handled the sample testing process. Another situation is that the sample may be missed-but if the RFID system is used when the sample is collected, the system will automatically record such errors, because the records stored in the back-end system identify the date and time of sample collection, and the connection Possible testing procedures include placing them in a storage room or sending them to a laboratory for testing.
Bode Technology has been paying attention to RFID technology and this kind of application market. As the cost of RFID has fallen, until last year, the company believed that the time to launch this system had arrived. The company developed the Bode-RFID system, including the company’s existing LIM system, and RFID software (compiling RFID data, together with the location and time of reading)-all data is stored in the LIM system. Bode-RFID can also provide hardware such as tags, readers and printers according to customer needs.
Bode Technology decided to test the system first at its testing facility in Virginia. Last week, the staff of the testing institute began to label and trace the evidence sent by several customers. In the initial stage, only Bode Technology will use RFID to read data for automatic tracking of the arrival, testing and storage of each item of evidence, and processing personnel.
When the physical evidence is delivered, they contain a printed reference code or barcode ID number, and the physical evidence information is printed on the surface of the paper bag or carton in text form. Bode employees have several options for storing data in the back-end system. In some cases, law enforcement agencies send electronic lists to Bode before the physical evidence is delivered. The list provides detailed information of the physical evidence, including the carton number, a list of other physical evidence stored in the box, the source institution and the required tests. The staff can then open the electronic list in the LIM system, enter the courier company information, arrival time and date, or use a handheld Motorola MC9090 to scan the courier barcode of the package of goods to create a physical evidence receipt record.
Either way, the staff will use a Zebra Technology printer to encode an Avery Dennison UHF Gen 2 RFID label, encode a unique ID code, and then paste the label on the paper envelope or carton where the physical evidence is placed, and place the RFID code Correspond to physical evidence. If the law enforcement agency does not send the electronic list before sending the physical evidence, the staff need to enter all the information of the packaging bag or paper list, write an RFID tag, and paste it on the envelope or carton. If law enforcement officers use RFID handhelds at the crime scene, attach an RFID tag to the evidence when collecting the evidence, and then read the tag at the scene, then Bode employees only need to read the tag when they receive the evidence. Users can use Bode-RFID software to read RFID tags, view the electronic list of physical evidence, and then follow the instructions and select the receiving time and courier company in the drop-down menu.
The physical evidence was then sent to the evidence room for storage. When it passed the entrance of the evidence room, it passed an Impinj RFID reader door built by Jamison Door. The ID code is sent to the LIMS of the Bode back-end database via a cable connection, indicating that the physical evidence has arrived in the evidence room. LIMS judges the label moving direction based on the label position and the last read point data. All information is automatically exchanged between Bode-RFID software and LIMS, Nagy said.
In addition, each employee is also equipped with an RFID badge, and the reader reads the ID code, thereby instructing which employee to bring in and out of the evidence room.
When the physical evidence is taken out by the DNA analyst, it passes through the door reader again and is taken to the laboratory. Each time a sample changes hands, a desktop or handheld reader in the laboratory reads the label. If there are multiple physical evidence bags corresponding to a certain cargo box code, other physical evidence information is also stored in LIMS. All physical evidence corresponds to RFID software and LIMS.
If the DNA analyst has not finished testing the specific physical evidence when he is off work, he can store the physical evidence in the temporary evidence room of the laboratory, and another RFID reader can read the ID code and employee badge of the sample tag and indicate the sample Moved into the temporary evidence room by an analyst. The next day, the sample was taken from the temporary evidence room and then tested.
When Bode employees need specific physical evidence, they can use the Motorola handheld reader to find the physical evidence in the evidence room. When the handheld reaches the range of the inquired tag, an audible alarm will sound. The closer it is, the louder the sound.
Before adopting the RFID system, Bode Technology employees manually entered data to establish the arrival record of each item. The company must keep a manual record of the incident when handling the physical evidence. When looking for samples, it is very time-consuming to rely on the naked eye to search. After adopting the RFID system, the search time is reduced, and the records are more complete and professional.
Currently, Bode’s RFID system is only used in the main evidence room and temporary evidence room. The company ultimately hopes to implement the labeling of all physical evidence and track their movement between the evidence room and the laboratory.
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