Orchid Cellmark Awarded Forensic DNA Contracts

Orchid Cellmark Inc., a provider of identity DNA testing services, has announced that its UK operation, Orchid Cellmark Ltd., (Abingdon, UK), has been awarded new DNA contracts with police forces in Kent, Sussex, and London.

Orchid Cellmark was awarded a three-year exclusive contract to provide DNA testing for PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act) and crime scene stain-profiling services for Kent and Sussex police forces. There is an option to extend the contract for an additional two years. The company will also provide DNA testing services for PACE mouth swab samples for police in London. The contract is for five years.

The crime scene stain service provided to Kent and Sussex police forces involves the DNA analysis of items recovered from crimes such as burglary and car theft. There are usually no suspects in these cases and any resulting profiles are submitted to the UK National DNA Database for intelligence purposes. The shorter the time interval between the offense date and provision of intelligence from the UK National DNA Database, the greater the chance of police recovering property belonging to a complainant for offenses such as burglary.

The UK operation of Orchid Cellmark provides British customers with a full range of forensic DNA services. From the routine testing of DNA samples for submission to the National DNA Database to the collection and analysis of evidence for the investigation of the most serious crimes, Orchid Cellmark is capable of attaining results from particularly small and compromised samples. The company currently provides most of its forensic DNA services in the United Kingdom through a subcontract relationship with Forensic Alliance Ltd. This relationship is being terminated and the company is now providing its services directly to UK police forces.

Thomas Bologna, president and CEO of Orchid Cellmark Inc., commented, "We believe our DNA forensic operations in the UK are second to none in providing innovation, quality, and rapid testing turnaround time, and we are very pleased that these three important police forces have awarded contracts to Orchid Cellmark. Equally important, we believe that obtaining this business suggests that our plan to provide forensic services directly to UK police forces is proceeding well.”



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