Developing DNAxs2.0: the next generation DNA eXpert System accommodating DNA-profile matching, mixture interpretation and statistical analysis with validation and dissemination across Europe

ended

DNA-profiling is one of the most valuable forensic approaches: it can generate investigative leads by retrieving names from DNA database searches and high weights of evidence when suspects and evidential traces are compared. The growing number of markers in profiling systems makes DNA-profile comparison increasingly time-consuming and error-prone. Software tools may change this to the better, which prompted the development of the expert system DNAxs. In December 2017, a basic version was implemented in the applicant’s laboratory after in house development and validation. This version includes a matchbox tool facilitating automatic comparison of sets of profiles within seconds and summary statistics on allele numbers and genotyping reproducibility. DNAxs excels in visual representation and generates export files for forensic reporting. DNAxs2.0 aims to integrate statistical analysis into DNAxs, based on selected functionalities of the advanced probabilistic model EuroForMix developed within an earlier EU consortium. This requires 1) research regarding the EuroForMix settings that provide optimal performance 2) software engineering and 3) thorough validation. Validation will take place at three levels: i) DNAxs results will be compared to EuroForMix results; ii) a test engineer will build integration tests to automatically check updated versions; iii) partner laboratories will test software performance under varying environments and provide input for broadened use. Various dissemination activities are scheduled. The need for a forensic DNA expert system is widely recognised as it will enhance the process of DNA-profile interpretation to be cost and labour efficient, robust and uniform. The user-friendliness of the software carrying a selection of EuroForMix functionalities will assist implementation of this advanced statistical model. Thus, the capacity and quality of forensic laboratories is increased with positive impact on society and crime solving.