National Institute of Justice and The New York City OCME
Date
December 2023
Overview
Support from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) enabled the New York City OCME to develop and validate proteomic mass spectrometry body fluid assays to support forensic analyses. Initial NIJ support (2008-DN-BX-K011) enabled the development of a fast and accurate proteomic method for body fluid identification and subsequent assessment of the level of detection, sensitivity, and specificity for blood, semen, and saliva. Current NIJ support (15PNIJ-21-GG-02712-SLFO) enabled the OCME to validate the body fluid assay for use in casework, which included acquiring several hundred body fluid samples from collaborative efforts in the forensic community.
“Bringing a confirmatory molecular serology assay into routine forensic practice will benefit both prosecution and defense, as well as improve public confidence in the quality and accuracy of forensic science and the fair administration of justice.”
- Donald Siegel | New York City OCME
Funding for this Forensic Technology Center of Excellence success story was provided by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this success story are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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