In an era of constrained local and state budgets, this cost-benefit analysis (CBA) tool, developed under funding from the National Institute of Justice, provides a critical resource that practitioners and laboratory managers can use to consider investing resources toward implementing a Direct-to-DNA SAK processing approach in lieu of serology screening.
The aim of this tool is to assist laboratories in evaluating the impact of modified SAK processing workflows, including a Direct-to-DNA approach and continuous sampling strategy to obtain a CODIS-eligible profile, on overall labor related-costs and CODIS results. The aim of this tool is to assist laboratories in evaluating the impact of modified SAK processing workflows, including a Direct-to-DNA approach and continuous sampling strategy to obtain a CODIS-eligible profile, on overall labor- related costs and CODIS results. The project applied the CBA tool to four SAK processing workflows: 1) Serology Screening; 2) Serology Screening with Continuous Sampling; 3) Direct-to-DNA; and 4) Direct-to-DNA with Continuous Sampling. A user guide has been developed for this CBA tool.