The National DNA Profiling Laboratory cannot match DNA samples taken from more than 200 bodies recovered from Rana Plaza, with the DNA samples taken from more than 450 people claiming the bodies, because they do not have special software required for conducting the tests.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) laboratory officials said they needed software known as MFISys (mass fatality identification system), which costs over Tk10m, and would enable them to conduct around 100,000 DNA sequencing tests from the samples collected so far. They also cited a shortage of lab technicians as an obstacle to performing the crucial task.
Till 3pm on Monday, the National DNA Profiling Laboratory had DNA samples from 212 dead bodies and 464 persons who are laying claim to them.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, laboratory chief Dr Sharif Akhtaruzzaman said his facility was able to conduct primary DNA analysis but was not equipped to conduct the necessary tests. He confirmed they need the US licensed MFISys software. He stated the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs had been informed.
The DMCH lab chief, when asked how long it may take to complete the identification process, said it depended on how soon the software was procured.
He stated: “Although we are yet to get assurance about funding, we have already communicated with the US company that develops it, who said they would send two experts to train local forensic officers when we buy the software.”
Up until yesterday, 1,127 bodies were recovered from the rubble of Rana Plaza at Savar, 15 workers succumbed to injuries in hospitals, while some bodies were buried in Jurain graveyard after taking DNA samples.
The number of people looking for missing workers has gone up as relatives flock to the DMCH forensic laboratory to check the bodies taken there are not of their loved ones.
Dr Sharif stated after the Tazreen Fashions incident, the lab tested 65 samples to identify 69 workers who died in the devastating fire, out of which they were able to identify 41. He however warned, “The situation is different now. The number of samples is much higher.” Adding, “DNA sequencing for two samples must match and the numbers of tests we need to conduct will exceed 100,000. We have also kept bone and tooth sample from some of the badly decomposed bodies. It takes longer to test bones than to test blood samples.”
The fee charged for DNA sample test is normally around Tk5, 000 at the National DNA Profiling Laboratory, but it has not yet been decided who will pay for the tests needed for the victims of Rana Plaza. The DMCH laboratory head said he had also informed the concerned ministry about this issue.
Monday 20 May 2013
http://dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2013/may/14/dna-tests-requires-expensive-software
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