Forensic DNA testing available in Malta

The commentary on forensic science carried on your University page last Sunday may misguide the public into thinking that no DNA forensic capabilities or facility exist in Malta.

Synergene Biotechnology Group has been equipped to handle Malta's DNA forensics requirements for several years. Testimonies to this are the forensic cases already handled by Synergene on behalf of the local law courts.

Unfortunately not all law enforcement agencies are choosing to recognise this expertise and keep resorting to using more expensive foreign laboratories at an added expense to the Maltese taxpayer.

Therefore "Ibn Campusino" is correct to say that "however today we still send most of the tests for DNA fingerprinting required by the courts to institutes or laboratories outside Malta." However, what is not being said is that a more cost-effective alternative already exists that can not only reduce the cost of such a service (and hence allow for more cases to be processed) but also give a result that will offer faster turnaround times for forensic DNA evidence.

Synergene Biotechnology Group is a multi-million dollar investment funded by private investors with no public funding and employs a near 100 per cent specialised Maltese staff including an extensive Forensic Science division with full forensic capabilities. To duplicate such a set-up (which has been supported by Malta Enterprise) would, we estimate, cost over €2.5 million and take some three years to achieve.

It may also please interested parties to note that Synergene is in the final stages of obtaining international ISO 17025 accreditation for its laboratory. Synergene has carried out an ISO 17025 accreditation pre-assessment and a date for the full ISO assessment to be completed has been set within a matter of weeks.

This ISO accreditation has taken several years of preparation and substantial expenditure but once obtained it will place Synergene in a select group of European labs accredited to do such forensic works; only around 15 per cent of labs in the European Union have such accreditation.

In fact, subject to accreditation, Synergene's capabilities are now such that several EU member nations (including some of those where the Maltese law courts already send some forensic work) are now in negotiations with Synergene to have their DNA forensic work undertaken in Malta.

In line with "Ibn Campusino's" comments, we agree that the Maltese courts must get used to the need for paying at commercial rates for the services rendered but we also take heart in knowing that Synergene will be able to significantly reduce the costs for these services that are presently sought overseas and improve present turnaround times by handling these requirements in Malta.

In conclusion, we would like to take the opportunity to thank both the Malta Standards Authority and the Malta Enterprise for the constant support shown towards our company. They have clearly recognised the need to support companies like Synergene which not only bring in much needed funds from foreign direct investment and export, but also bring with them technical expertise which as rightly described by Campusino as "limited".