FORENSIC GENETICS LABORATORY
The Forensic Genetics Laboratory of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” is designed and operated in accordance with the highest standards of safety, quality, and analytical reliability. Particular attention is devoted to contamination prevention and to the full traceability of biological material throughout the entire analytical process. These principles have informed the laboratory’s architectural and organizational design, resulting in a facility structured into distinct functional areas with a strictly unidirectional workflow, in compliance with the most advanced international guidelines and best practices.
All work areas are physically segregated according to the different analytical phases, from sample preparation to post-amplification analysism thereby minimizing the risk of cross-contamination. Each operational environment is maintained under controlled and sterile conditions, with regulated access and safety interlock systems that prevent the simultaneous opening of doors, ensuring the protection and integrity of the internal laboratory environmen
ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation
The Laboratory is accredited in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025, the international standard specifying the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. This accreditation attests that all forensic genetic analyses are conducted in compliance with rigorously validated procedures, under continuous quality control, using calibrated instrumentation and performed by highly qualified personnel.
ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation guarantees:
- Accuracy and reliability of results, ensured through standardized, validated, and regularly monitored analytical protocols;
- Traceability and reproducibility, supported by comprehensive documentation and controlled management of samples, data, and analytical processes;
- Compliance with international standards, ensuring the scientific robustness and judicial admissibility of laboratory reports in legal and investigative proceedings.
Through this accreditation, clients and judicial authorities can rely on results that are scientifically sound, internationally recognized, and legally robust.
Main Areas of the Laboratory
Sample Reception and Sampling
Two physically separate yet functionally interconnected rooms are dedicated to the intake and initial handling of biological evidence:
- Evidence Reception Anteroom
A controlled-access area for the reception of biological material, equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment to ensure staff safety and contamination control.
- Sterile Sampling Room
A dedicated clean room designed for sample handling, secured by a double-door safety interlock system that prevents simultaneous access and guarantees complete isolation from external environments.
DNA Extraction and Amplification
A restricted-access corridor leads to the core analytical areas of the laboratory:
- DNA Extraction Room, where genetic material is isolated under controlled conditions;
- DNA Quantification and Amplification Room, physically separated and maintained under sterile conditions to prevent cross-contamination;
- Instrumentation Room, dedicated to the final pre-electrophoretic analytical steps.
Post-PCR Analysis and Capillary Electrophoresis
Following amplification, DNA products are transferred through a secure pass-through window into the Post-PCR area, dedicated to capillary electrophoresis and automated genetic analysis. Physical access to this area is exclusively external, ensuring complete segregation from pre-PCR activities and preserving workflow integrity.
Forensic Biostatistics Center
The scientific reliability of forensic genetic evidence relies on rigorous statistical evaluation. To this end, the Laboratory hosts a dedicated Forensic Biostatistics Center, equipped with advanced computational infrastructure and staffed by specialists in forensic data analysis. Using validated software platforms and up-to-date interpretative models, the Center supports complex forensic evaluations, including:
- Kinship and parentage analysis;
- Interpretation of complex and multiple-contributor DNA mixtures;
- Calculation and reporting of likelihood ratios (LR) for forensic and judicial purposes.
