Sample Collection

We offer innovative and customizable sample collection solutions, that includes: HiGenoMB®’s InstaDNA™ Card (MBT126), Sample Collection Swabs, Crime Scene Investigation kit, and other collection systems.

Sample Preparation / Extraction

Currently in forensic DNA laboratories, automated DNA extraction is being utilized frequently to boost capacity, satisfy the growing demand for DNA analysis, and reduce the risk of sample contamination and handling errors. These machines were designed and developed with the purpose to enhance the quantity and quality of DNA extracted from various forensic samples.

Bones and teeth are generally the only sample types available for identification in missing individuals, natural disasters, mass fatalities, and anthropological excavation instances. Furthermore, the use of these samples in STR typing assays is limited by the co-extraction of environmental inhibitors during purification and the high probability of these samples being degraded by environmental conditions. The HiPurA® Multi sample Pre-Filled Reagents for Insta NX® Mag32 can extract inhibitor-free DNA from forensic casework samples efficiently for downstream applications to give a clear and readable DNA profile. A reliable & user-friendly benchtop instrument, the HiGenoMB® Insta NX® Mag32 Automated Nucleic Acid Extractor (LA1096) provides maximum flexibility to the customer. The samples that can be analyzed include blood stains, semen stains, hair samples, cigarette butts, tissue, bone, and teeth samples. The pre-filled ready to use kit is designed to deliver a final DNA extract in a pure, concentrated state, and devoid of inhibitors.

DNA Quantification Solutions

Forensic DNA analysis revolve around a crucial feature, i.e., DNA quantification. The most sensitive technique, real-time quantitative PCR, can quantify DNA at picogram (10-12g) concentrations. Additionally, multiple DNA targets can be detected using multiplexing and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) technology. The capacity of qPCR to amplify, identify, and quantify in a single step is very beneficial. It dramatically reduces turnaround time besides exposure to contamination and mistakes while streamlining data collection and analysis. With its distinctive set of features, the Q96®-6.0 Real-Time PCR Platform (LA1074) from HiGenoMB® is an open and exclusive Real-Time PCR System for forensic applications. This user-friendly, cutting-edge equipment can track DNA amplification cycle by cycle, providing precise and accurate DNA quantitation. These Open Systems, allow the user to select any commercial reagents and/or test kits to be used. These machines already have factory calibrated filters. Therefore, using a competitor's kit does not necessitate calibration.

Integrated forensic DNA software solutions

The forensic DNA workflow entails multiple complex steps, including difficult analyses, practices, and judgements. Because of this, many laboratories rely largely on software and IT systems to direct them and efficiently handle their daily laboratory operations. HiGenoMB® Forensic ID Software (MBES01) is a user-friendly web-based tool created explicitly to support forensic professionals working on quantifying human DNA. It is also included with the Insta Q96®-6.0 Real-Time PCR Platform (LA1074). This is the only program which supports all commercially available human DNA quantification kits, similar to the equipment (LA1074). When setting up various downstream STR studies, the software automatically provides information on the quantity of DNA, other necessary parameters, and the dilution series.

As challenging as it is to extract good quality DNA in adequate quantity from a bone or tooth sample, it is equally difficult to obtain acceptable DNA profiles, especially in situations of mass fatalities. This is because the extracted bone DNA is frequently degraded and recovered in low quantities. The quantity and quality of bone DNA that has been recovered heavily depends on the location of the bones before their discovery. Additionally, individual-specific characteristics including ethnicity, gender, age, and the type of skeletal components have an impact on the bone DNA.

At the recently concluded Forensic Hackathon 2023 followed by the 25th All India Forensic Science Conference (AIFSC-2023) at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar Campus, Gujarat; the HiGenoMB® Forensic Bone DNA Prediction Software (MBES02), developed by HiGenoMB® was selected for presentation by the jury. This new and unique Open software aids forensic scientists in comprehending the DNA quantification and quality values following real-time analysis utilizing any human DNA quantification kit. It has a distinctive feature that allows forensic experts to enter the minimum amount of DNA required for STR profiling, known as the DNA Quantification Threshold (ng/μL).

PCR amplification

Short Tandem Repeat (STR) technology in DNA fingerprinting is now widely recognised as the basis for identifying people. DNA profiles generated from STR amplification kits are used to create national and international database criteria for forensic, paternity, and relationship-testing applications. HiGenoMB®’s Prima Series (LA948, LA948A, LA949, LA949A, LA949B, LA1091), are Open System thermal cyclers that can be used with any compatible STR amplification kit. With interchangeable block formats, one can maximize the throughput or run independent experiments concurrently.

Wildlife Forensics

A relatively recent area of criminal investigation is wildlife forensics. Its objectives are to correlate the evidence from crime scenes to identify the suspect and its victim (in this case an animal) by using scientific methods of inspection, classification, and comparison. According to the current trade laws in India, export and import of beef (cow, bull and calf) is prohibited. To weed out intermixing or adulteration, and help in wildlife forensics, three real-time PCR assays were designed by HiGenoMB® to detect mitochondrial DNA and sex chromosomes from these bovine species. The assays are Open and Compatible with other brands of qPCR systems used in forensic labs. The experiments presented here verify that the developed real-time PCR assays are robust. These assays produce reliable and reproducible results for somatic detection and sexual identification of Bos taurus (cow) and Bubalus bubalis (buffalo), even at low sample DNA concentrations. An official communication by HiGenoMB® was published recently in the journal Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series along with poster presentation in the 29th Congress of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG) (image below).

To summarize, HiGenoMB® “Equipments, Kits & Softwares” can help any forensic laboratory to standardize sample processing and forensic testing to achieve consistent, high- quality results i.e., from Sample to Insight.