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Forensic Science Center

Forensic DNA Analysis

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Delivering Answers Through Science

At the heart of the Marshall University Forensic Science Center (MUFSC) is a nationally accredited DNA testing laboratory, offering essential services to criminal justice agencies across West Virginia and the United States.

We provide comprehensive forensic DNA analysis in the following categories:

  • Criminal casework
    • Sexual assault
    • Homicide
    • Property crime
    • Cold cases
  • Forensic relationship testing
    • Paternity and family-related criminal cases
  • CODIS offender sample processing
    • West Virginia’s designated lab for convicted offender DNA profiling
  • Technical review services
    • STR case reviews for accuracy, completeness, and legal defensibility
Contact Us

Forensic DNA Casework

Reducing Backlogs. Supporting Prosecutions. Strengthening Investigations.

As DNA evidence becomes more central in criminal justice, many public labs face resource constraints and growing backlogs. MUFSC assists these laboratories by providing accredited forensic DNA testing on new and overflow casework.

With strategic partnerships across the country, we offer:

  • Rapid turnaround
  • Legally defensible results
  • Transparent chain-of-custody
  • Testing that meets ANAB and NDIS requirements

Property Crime DNA Analysis

Solving Crimes Often Overlooked

Many public labs prioritize violent crime due to limited capacity, but DNA can be just as effective in property crime investigations.

Since 2007, MUFSC has conducted a research-backed initiative exploring the value of DNA testing in property crimes. In partnership with law enforcement agencies serving rural and urban populations, our lab analyzes DNA from crime scenes such as burglaries or auto thefts and compares the profiles to CODIS.

This work has helped law enforcement connect suspects across multiple cases, making DNA a powerful tool in reducing both societal and economic impacts of repeat property crime offenders.

CODIS Offender Sample Analysis

West Virginia’s Designated Convicted Offender DNA Lab

As part of our partnership with the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory (WVSPFL), MUFSC serves as the primary lab for processing convicted offender DNA samples for the state.

How It Works:

  1. The WV Department of Corrections collects blood samples from qualifying offenders.
  2. WVSPFL assigns each sample a unique barcode to maintain privacy and identity protection.
  3. MUFSC generates DNA profiles from the samples and returns them to WVSPFL.
  4. Profiles are uploaded to:
    • WV State CODIS Database
    • NDIS (National DNA Index System) via the secure CJIS-WAN network

These profiles are then compared against unidentified DNA from unsolved cases across the country — playing a crucial role in closing cold cases and identifying repeat offenders.

Learn more about the national CODIS program on the FBI’s CODIS Program Website.

Accreditation & Expertise

The DNA Laboratory is:

  • Accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)
  • Compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 standards
  • Approved for CODIS casework and database submissions

All testing is conducted by a highly qualified staff of forensic scientists – all with graduate-level degrees and demonstrated proficiency in forensic DNA analysis. Our team adheres to strict quality assurance protocols and is subject to regular audits.