Orchid Cellmark, a leader in private forensic DNA profiling, has launched a new "DNA Express Service" for local law enforcement agencies.The new premium service delivers forensic DNA results for "no-suspect" and other criminal cases within five business days, compared to the standard average turn-around time of four to five weeks for routine casework.No-suspect cases are unsolved crimes in which an alleged perpetrator has not yet been identified. Many state crime labs face up to twelve-month backlogs in analyzing DNA evidence for these no-suspect cases.

The new DNA Express Service is designed to enable local law enforcement agencies to work directly with Orchid Cellmark to obtain rapid, accurate DNA analysis in no-suspect cases and conventional criminal cases with suspects. Orchid Cellmark works with local agencies to expedite the entire process, from transporting crime scene specimens to Orchid Cellmark's laboratories to conducting the analysis and reporting back results in approximately one week.

"With the resource of convicted offender DNA databases now available in most states, law enforcement can no longer accept lengthy delays in processing no-suspect DNA evidence," said Mark Stolorow, executive director of Orchid Cellmark."We believe that our DNA Express Service, which has a faster turn-around than any other premium service offered in the industry, provides local law enforcement officials with a valuable new option that will enable them to analyze no-suspect DNA evidence in a more timely and efficient manner."

Statistics show that many offenders who have been convicted of felonies such as rape are likely to commit subsequent offenses, so DNA databases of convicted offenders are becoming a potent tool for solving crimes.By more rapidly processing no-suspect DNA evidence, local law enforcement agencies are able to solve more of these crimes and to do so more quickly, thereby also reducing the chance that repeat offenders will go on to commit additional crimes during the time that they are not apprehended and remain at large.

Many state crime laboratories continue to have a massive accumulation of unanalyzed DNA evidence, with the total nationwide backlog estimated at up to 500,000 cases.This backlog hampers the resolution of unsolved crimes.With a world-class reputation for conducting DNA forensic casework, three forensic DNA facilities accredited by ASCLD-LAB, and procedures and processes in place to ensure rapid testing turn-around, Orchid Cellmark intends its DNA Express Service to become a valuable new resource for local law enforcement agencies demanding quick, accurate DNA analysis of no-suspect cases.