July 5th, 2001


Opening Remarks

Greetings from the DNA Sample Collections Project Office. This is the latest in our series of updates designed to help keep all our partners informed of the latest developments with the project and the National DNA Data Bank.

 

Crime Scene Index

New National Policy The NDDB Crime Scene Index (CSI) policy is currently under review and a detailed policy statement should be available soon.

 

Training Update

The NDDB is presently working on a web-site that will include all necessary documents, questions, etc... for training purposes. It will include a "new and improved" Reference Guide and a Trainer's Manual with photos and reference to the slides from the PowerPoint presentation. If all goes well, it should be accessible this Fall. Discussions are presently ongoing to begin training recruits, in sample collection for the NDDB, at Depot this fall. It has been requested that C-104 warrant training be included at the same time. If possible, this will be incorporated in the training package. You will be informed when details are available.

 

Wording for a Warrant after a hit-example

We have included with this News Letter a template for the wording (keep in mind this is only an example and should be used as a guideline only) for a warrant sample after there is a hit at the NDDB. (See Appendix A) We hope it will help investigators who need guidance in writing up their "Information to obtain a Warrant" (Form 5.01) after they have been notified there was a hit on their suspect.

 

Tracking DNA profiles on CPIC

You can query CPIC to see if a convicted offender has an existing DNA profile in the Data Bank. Utilizing the CNI category, enter the offender's name and DOB. If a successful profile has been obtained and filed, the following notice will appear: " DNA ON KNOWN OFFENDER DATA BANK."

Prior to court, it is vital that the offenders CNI category be queried. This will assist with averting duplication of DNA samples.

 

DNA Sample Collection at Federal Institutions

DNA sample collection at federal institutions will be performed by a peace officer or another person under the direction of a peace officer. Correction Services Canada (CSC) personnel will not take DNA samples. Correctional officers will assume responsibility for use of force, should this be required for the offender to comply with the DNA sample collection process at a federal institution.

 

Reminder: Tracking Information Required for the Retroactive Offenders

It is vital that the Retroactive DNA sample coordinating office be advised of the status of the DNA sample request. This information is important to ensure that the expiry dates do not elapse.

 

Authorizations Refused for Multiple Convictions With Similar Circumstances

The judiciary in some jurisdictions have refused to issue retroactive collection authorizations in several cases where the offender appears to qualify under the legislation, but two or more of the qualifying offences seem to have been committed under similar circumstances (e.g.: same victim).

 

Amputated Index Fingers

Q: What should collecting officers do if index fingerprints cannot be obtained from an offender providing a DNA sample? For example, if one or both index fingers - or even an entire hand- is completely or partially amputated.

A: We have received this question a number of times. While there is no official policy, we recommend the following. Include any other fingerprint on the sample card, but clearly indicate that there is an amputation of the index finger(s), and which finger you are using. For example, "middle right" or "ring, left hand." It is important to include fingerprints as they link the biological sample to the identity of the person. In those rare cases where the offender has no fingers at all, the collecting officer should clearly state the problem on the collection card, and we will deal with the situation on a case by case basis.

 

Extra Lancets for Blood Sample Collection

Q: Some people's blood clots quickly, making it difficult to obtain an adequate blood sample. If we need to prick a donor's finger a second time, we currently need to open a second sampling kit in order to use a new lancet. Could we use lancets commonly used by diabetics to check their blood sugar? They are inexpensive, and easily obtained from local pharmacies.

A: We strongly recommend that you use only the lancets included in the official NDDB sample collection kits. While pharmacy lancets probably work well for diabetics, NDDB lancets are sterile and have been tried and tested by our Research and Development group for DNA sampling purposes. Sticking to the original NDDB model will also likely help to limit legal challenges from defence lawyers arguing that their client was sampled using a non-approved lancet. We recommend all officers conducting DNA sample collections keep an extra box of approved lancets handy. Extra lancets can be purchased from a number of suppliers at a reasonable cost (for example, Stevens Company offers a box of 50 lancets for $20.00). See the revised supplier list attached to this News Letter for supplier information.

 

Blood Transfusion/Bone Marrow Donations

Q: If an offender has had a blood transfusion, will two DNA profiles appear in any biological evidence he/she has left at a crime scene?

A: It is possible, but unlikely. It will partly depend on the type of transfusion received. If a person has received only red blood cells (which do not contain DNA), there will be no confusion. If the person has received white blood cells or platelets (both of which contain DNA), there could be a mixture of recipient DNA and donor DNA in the sample. Upon analysis, both DNA profiles would be identified. They will not "mix" to create one, new profile.

Keep in mind that the human body will replace all transfused blood cells within three or four weeks. If the transfusion was minor, the recipient's original DNA profile would be clearly prominent. If the transfusion was major, the recipient will probably be too ill to commit a serious crime before their body has replaced most of the donor cells.

In those rare cases where two DNA profiles are discovered in a sample, it is always noted and the analysis double checked. Investigators are also notified for further followup as required.

 

Revised Supplier List

A revised recommended supplier list for NDDB Sample Collection Training Kits components and other related items is attached to this News Letter. (Appendix B)

 

Statistics

As of June 22nd, 2001, the NDDB had received a total of 9406 biological sample.

  • Retroactive samples: 640
  • Retrospective samples: 5357
  • Prospective samples: 3409

  • Samples rejected: 104
  • DNA Profiles in NDDB Crime Scene Index: 2263

  • Total hits: 36

 

Delivery address for Biological Samples

Please ensure the following address for the DNA Data Bank is made available to all individuals who collect DNA samples.

National DNA Data Bank
1200 Vanier Parkway
PO Box 8885
NPS/LAB Loading Dock # 1
Ottawa, ON
K1G 3M8

 

Next Update

Future News Letters will be distributed approximately every 3-4 months provided there is sufficient material to share. Deadline for submissions for the next publication is October 15th, 2001.

 

Appendix A:

  1. I have been a member of the ________Police Service for __ years. I am currently assigned to . In the course of my career, I have been involved in numerous criminal investigations. I believe the facts stated herein are true. Where I have not been personally involved in the investigations, I have gained information from reading police reports regarding those incidents.

  2. Between (date) at (time) and (date) at (time), the (victim or building) located at (place) was (designated offence). (provide description of offence, damages, injuries caused, dollar value of damages or losses e.g. - The ABC business complex located at was broken into. The offenders caused $0,000.00 in damages in order to gain entry into various offices. Once inside they stole approximately $0,000.00 worth of property including company cheques, numbered #1233, #1234, #1235.)

  3. On (date) members of the Police Service Identification Unit attended (place) in order to conduct a forensic search for any trace evidence left behind by the offenders. Areas (e.g.-at the point of entry) were examined including (description of objects where samples found) located in (area / room#__ / residence room use description). The Ident officer discovered (blood / bodily substance description) on the (description of objects, thing, place or person), which were (photographed and) sampled for possible DNA comparison. Due to the location of the (blood / bodily substance) on the (description of objects, thing, place or person), the Ident officer surmised that (the source/cause of the blood/ bodily substance being left at the crime scene; e.g. left hand was bleeding). The (blood / bodily substance) was then submitted to the ____ Forensic Laboratory located at (address) for forensic DNA analysis on (date).

    (other corroborating grounds if available e.g. - para 4)

  4. On (date) a (male/female) identified as (X name) attended to (place) located at (address) and (action e.g. tendered cheque # 1233 for a sum of $000). (X) was arrested and charged with (offence e.g. uttering forged documents and possession of goods obtained by crime under $5,000.00). (X) then provided a formal statement to police implicating (Y name) as the (male/female) who (action e.g. gave (X) the cheques).

  5. On (date) the _____ Police Service received a (communication e.g. - fax) from (Z name), the CODIS (COmbined DNA Index System) Administrator from the Biology section of the ______ Forensic Laboratory Services. (Z) has been a forensic Biologist for a period of ____ years. (Z) advised that the crime scene DNA profile resulting from the forensic DNA analysis of the crime scene sample submitted to ____ Forensic Laboratory located at (address) for forensic DNA analysis on (date) referred to in paragraph 3 was submitted to the National Crime Scene Index of the National DNA Data Bank of Canada. The crime scene DNA profile was then compared to other DNA profiles contained in the Crime Scene Index and the Convicted Offender Index of the National DNA Data Bank of Canada. There (was a match/were matches) found between the crime scene DNA profile and (a DNA profile/DNA profiles) contained in (the Crime Scene Index and/or the Convicted Offender Index) of the National DNA Data Bank. The convicted offender whose DNA profile matched the DNA from the crime scene was identified as (Y), FPS #- .

    The Canadian Police Services Information Centre (CPSIC) of the RCMP then notified the ____ Forensic Laboratory, who then passed on this information to the writer. On (date), the writer received a (communication e.g. - fax) from (A name) who is currently (in charge of/employed at) the Biology Section of the ______ Forensic Laboratory Services in _______. (A) advised, that a comparison to the DNA profile referred to in paragraph 3 can be made, should a known sample of DNA from a suspect be submitted to the Laboratory for forensic DNA analysis.

  6. The writer, being a police officer is able, by virtue of training or experience to obtain a bodily substance from the person, by means of an investigative procedure described in subsection 487.06 (1).

  7. The preceding information, which I believe to be true, is the basis upon which I request the granting of a warrant to obtain a sample of a bodily substance from (Y) for the purpose of forensic DNA analysis. I believe that (Y) was a party to the designated offence described in paragraph 2 and that forensic DNA analysis of the bodily substance requested will provide evidence that the bodily substance referred in paragraph 3 was from (Y).

Signed on this day, the _th day of _______ in the year 200x. ____________________________________________Police Service

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Appendix B

Suppliers List National DNA Data Bank
Sample Collection Training Kit Components
(Revised 2001-04)
N.B. Prices subject to change

  1. Lancets - Unistik - box of 50 - cat # 622AT0610 - $20.00
    Masks - Tie-on Surgical - box of 50- cat # 800-1818 - $19.00

    Stevens Company, 200 Walker Drive, Brampton, ON L6T 4H1
    Phone: 1-800-268-0184
    Fax: 1-905-791-6143


  2. FTA Cards - pk of 100 - cat # WB12-0205, $187.25
    Desiccants - ultrapak - pk of 1000 - cat # WB10-0003, $157.20 Ultrabarrier Pouch - pk of 500 - cat # WB10-0010, $307.50

    Whatman BioScience, 200 Wells Ave. Newton, MA, USA, 02459-3347
    Phone: 1-866-787-3362
    Fax: 1-877-625- 1020


  3. Foam Swabs - box of 50 - cat # 08106 - $20.00 (US)
    Hair Cards - pk of 100 - $40.00 (US)

    Whatman/Fitzco Inc., 5600 Pioneer Creek Drive, Maple Plain, MN 55359, USA
    Phone: 763-479-3489 or 1-800-367-8760
    Fax: 1-763-479-2880


  4. Alcohol wipes - box of 100- cat # 56612-916- $3.00
    Gloves - Latex Evolution One - Large - pack of 100 - cat # 32916-536, $16.63

    VWR-Canlab, 8567 Dalton Road Ville Mont Royal, Quebec, H4T 1V5
    Phone: 1-800-932-5000
    Fax # 1-514-344-0133

The cost of making a training kit* is approximately:

  • lancet = $0.40
  • mask = $0.38
  • FTA card = $1.87
  • desiccant = 3 @ $0.16 = $0.48
  • Ultrabarrier pouch = $0.62
  • foam swab = $0.40 (US)
  • hair card = $0.40 (US)
  • alcohol wipe = $0.03
  • latex gloves (2)= $0.34
Total (approx.) = $4.12 (Cdn) + $0.80 (US) = $5.30 Cdn.

*Ready-made training kits are also available from Whatman/Fitzco Inc. at $11.85 US each.

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BACK TO UPDATES
Date Published : 2001-04-22
Last Updated : 2002-03-02