With the country waiting years for this development, the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) will on Friday commence DNA testing of several samples from crime scenes following the acquisition of a key piece of equipment and the training of four staff members in its use.
This is according to the entity’s Director Delon France, who said during a commissioning ceremony yesterday that once international certification is attained, the laboratory will be able to take in samples from jurisdictions outside of Guyana.
The DNA testing encompasses three main areas – comparison or matching evidence to the suspect, paternity testing and family mapping/testing where you can use the family DNA to identify a suspect even if the suspect’s DNA is unavailable.
Cheek cells, semen, vaginal secretion, hair, blood and touch DNA are among the samples that can be collected and submitted for testing.