Errors in America!!!! Try testing the British - they can not even get fingerprinting right. There will be twice as many mistakes in Britain. Do not believe the FSS spokesman - ed.
Article from The Observer (WE 2/2/02)
False result fear over DNA tests
By Nick Paton
Walsh
One in every hundred forensic tests performed on the DNA of suspected criminals
may give a false result, according to the first research of its kind into laboratory
error rates.
The study is the first evidence of widespread mistakes in the sophisticated
system of tests. DNA testing is widely used to convince juries of a suspect's guilt
or presence at the scene of a crime, and was thought to be almost flawless. The findings
will shock British DNA laboratories, which deny that errors exist.
Statisticians in
Austin, Texas, gained access to the first accuracy tests carried out on DNA laboratories,
which were conducted anonymously. Researchers had asked the labs to match a series
of DNA samples. They knew which ones were from the same person, but found that in
over 1 per cent of cases the labs falsely matched samples, or failed to notice a
match.
The statisticians then calculated that a substantial human error had occurred
in 12 in every 1,000 tests.
British forensic experts expressed alarm at the errors
and stressed they were more numerous than expected.
Jonathon Koehler, a teaching professor
at the University of Texas, Austin, who carried out the statistical research, said:
“The controversy over error rates is not over my calculations, but over the concept
of an error rate.”
DNA testing is controversial in the United States, but in Britain
- where a similar number of samples are held on the nationwide database, despite
our smaller population - government scientists deny that errors are possible.
Professor
Derek Pounder of the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Dundee,
said: “The increased quality controls that have been introduced to laboratories over
time are a reaction to errors being found.” The first problems with DNA evidence
emerged two years ago, when British forensic scientists admitted at a private conference
with their American counterparts that they had found two people with DNA that seemed
to match when tested.
The Forensic Science Service denied that mistakes reached the
courtroom.
Chris Hadkiss, manager of the DNA laboratory at the FSS, said: “People
make mistakes - no one is disputing that - but we have a quality system here and
have external auditors. The mistakes are not allowed to go to court”.
nick.walsh@observer.co.uk
www.slimeylimeyjustice.org