As of August 14, 2015, DNA Buccal Collection kits have ONLY ONE blue EasiCollect device containing one FTA card. Kits that contain two blue EasiCollect devices will still be accepted by the Federal DNA Database Unit for processing but will no longer be shipped out. Please proceed with collections according to the instructions enclosed in the kit as you normally would, using the one blue EasiCollect device.

Federal DNA Database Unit (FDDU)

Mission

The Federal DNA Database Unit (FDDU) functions to analyze the Core CODIS loci DNA markers from buccal and blood samples of federal convicted offenders, arrestees facing federal charges, individuals convicted of certain District of Columbia offenses, and non-U.S. citizens detained under the authority of the United States of America, for development of DNA profiles that are uploaded to the National DNA Index System (NDIS).

The Team

Unit chief, forensic examiners, biologists, management and program analysts, DNA technical specialists, DNA program specialists, and contractors

What We Do

FDDU serves the greater forensic community by aiding investigations through hit confirmations against individuals whose profiles are in the NDIS. Agencies submit blood or buccal samples to FDDU from individuals who are required by law to do so. These include individuals convicted of, arrested for, or facing charges of certain qualifying federal crimes or convicted of qualifying District of Columbia offenses, as well as non-U.S. citizens who are detained under the authority of the United States. FDDU then produces a DNA profile for each of these individuals and uploads it to the NDIS, which is part of the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). NDIS-participating casework laboratories are able to search their approved questioned samples against the NDIS. If a hit occurs between the casework sample and one of our offenders, the casework laboratory can request FDDU to confirm the offender sample DNA profile. After the confirmation of the offender sample DNA profile, FDDU will release a hit letter that includes information about the offender, including the name and last known whereabouts, to the casework laboratory to be used as an investigative aid in the agency’s case.

How We Do It

Under the overall direction of the FDDU chief, unit operations effectively cascade across three supervisors and are guided by their respective management of integral program teams. A team of accessioning scientists handle the initial triage of submissions into the unit, inventorying samples, inputting specimen data, and preparing specimens for the beginning stages of testing. A team of laboratory scientists apply robotic processing stations and high-throughput instrumentation to generate DNA typing results from samples within days of sample acceptance. A team of reporting scientists interprets the resulting DNA profiles, approve data for upload, and author correspondence to casework laboratories regarding database associations confirmed between FDDU specimen DNA profiles and corresponding evidentiary DNA profiles.

On a compliance level, the FDDU is supported by teams of DNA technical specialists and DNA program specialists, who have critical responsibilities within the unit for ensuring the quality assurance and quality control of analytical testing, as well as conformance of database operations with established procedural requirements.

Administratively, the unit is supported by a team of management and program analysts with responsibilities for budgetary execution, procurement, inventory, and logistical applications. The unit relies heavily upon an information technology team to support the unit network and overall infrastructure backbone that drives the various operational applications.

From a technology perspective, a DNA Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is critical for the automated development of specimen works lists, controlling the stepwise progression of each sample through the entire analytical process. The FDDU utilizes robotic systems in the laboratory to achieve high-throughput processing, allowing for a day-through-evening uninterrupted workflow without human intervention, permitting maximum operational efficiency. A sophisticated software analysis tool (expert system) permits an automated review of resulting DNA data with a reduced level of scientist intervention, increasing throughput rate while consistently meeting or exceeding required performance measures.  

The Future

As federal legislation in recent years has increased the number of qualifying offenses for DNA submission, FDDU has expanded its personnel, robotic systems, and technology to meet the demands of its mission.

Links

• Buccal Collection Kit Information
• Buccal Collection Kit Reorder Form
• Sample Status Request Form
• History of the Unit
  
• Legislation Directing FDDU’s Mission
• Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Information

For further information, please contact FDDU at
(703) 632-7529 or write to us at:

Federal DNA Database Unit
2501 Investigation Parkway
Quantico, VA 22135