Applied Bio on track with forensics software

Life science device and software company Applied Biosystems has passed a key milestone en route to what may be its largest single sale of bioinformatics products in Australia.

It has met a contractual requirement to custom-tailor its core SQL LIMS laboratory information software package to conform to the needs of users in eight state-based forensic labs.

That could clear the way for the software to form the glue in a $3.2 million project to produce a standardised system that ties police forensic labs in each state into a national DNA database.

Applied Biosystems has been talking since last December with CrimTrac, the Commonwealth-funded agency overseeing the project.

The talks led to installation of an SQL LIMS system in a central location, the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, where it has been tailored to meet the individual requirements of forensic labs in other states.

Last Friday, a representative of the eight regional labs in the network confirmed the heavily-customised system met user requirements.

A hands-on trial period is now being implemented. If the system passes that test, CrimTrac CEO John Mobbs is likely to take a positive procurement recommendation to his board of management by August 22.

Applied Biosystems' suite of tools is already used by all Australian labs supplying criminal forensic services to State police forces.

However, many have developed their own processes and maintain their own DNA databases.

CrimTrac is committed to creating a uniform system linking regional forensics centres to the Canberra-based National Criminal Investigation DNA database.

Mobbs said he hopes to have an end-to-end standardised system in place by December.

He said CrimTrac has been impressed by Applied Biosystems' flexibility during contract negotiations and the effort it has put into custom-tailoring its SQL LIMS package.

CrimTrac was established two years ago as a national policing initiative to take advantage of advances in forensic science, information technology and communications.

It falls under the Justice and Customs portfolio and is underwritten by $50 million in Federal funding for three years plus operational support from all Australian police services.