JANUS® Forensic Workstation

Forensic identification of DNA evidence has shown tremendous potential in solving crimes and exonerating persons wrongly charged of crimes. However, the inability of the forensic laboratories to process samples in a consistent and timely manner has hindered the use of DNA as a crime-fighting tool. Currently, there is a significant backlog of casework samples caused by a massive demand for DNA analyses. A major contributor to this backlog is the lack of automated laboratory equipment.

The JANUS® Forensic Workstation addresses this issue by providing automated protocols and the necessary hardware to conduct the fundamental processes of DNA analysis. The JANUS Forensic Workstation streamlines DNA analysis procedures to increase forensic scientist's productivity, eliminate human error, and reduce contamination. The JANUS system reliably performs tedious and repetitive tasks often associated with these applications, thus freeing the forensic scientist for other work.

The Forensic Workstation delivers:

• Flexibility - handles magnetic particle or filtration-based protocols for blood, buccal swab and other samples processed for either large database or small casework samples.
• Rapid throughput - 96 forensic DNA samples less than 2 hours, a 10 fold increase in throughput when compared to manual processing.
• Sample tracking - automated recording and sample data documentation with a choice of bar code read options.
• Safe sample handling - automation minimizes user contact.
• No cross-contamination - Disposable Filter Tip Option prevents sample carryover.
• User-Friendly Software - ready-to-go WinPREP protocols.
• Database Archiving - automated FTA filter spotting with positive sample & labware identification.

PerkinElmer offers several Forensic Workstation Options each ideally suited for the different stages of the DNA identification process. These options are dictated by the specific application. The application specific forensic options consist of WinPREP protocols and relevant hardware for each of the DNA typing procedures.

• JANUS Forensic DNA Isolation* Option: For DNA isolation
• JANUS PCR Setup Option: For DNA quantification, normalizing and dilution, and PCR setup.