Idaho Lab Finds a Quicker Way to CATCH a Thief!

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Federal researchers say they've developed a human identification test that's faster and possibly cheaper than DNA testing.

It would be a handy new weapon in the arsenal for detectives, forensic experts and the military, though no one expects it to replace DNA analysis — and its promoters say it is not intended to.

The new method analyzes antibodies. Each person has a unique antibody bar code that can be gleaned from blood, saliva or other bodily fluids. Antibodies are proteins used by the body to fend off viruses or perform routine physiological housekeeping.

"DNA is a physical code that describes you ... and in many ways so are your antibodies," said Dr. Vicki Thompson, a chemical engineer at the Idaho National Laboratory who's been working with other researchers to perfect the test for the past 10 years.

The scientists say an antibody profile can yield results faster and more cheaply and be performed in the field with minimal training. National lab administrators have licensed the technology exclusively to Identity Sciences LLC in Alpharetta, Ga.

The Georgia startup plans to begin rolling out test kits and training to law enforcement, the military and forensic and medical labs around the globe by fall of 2009. Ken Haas, vice president of marketing, says the test is not intended to supplant DNA testing, the recognized gold standard in human identification.

But Haas says the value of antibody profiling is as a screening tool to help make sense of a crime scene, sort out the blood trails or spatter from multiple victims or more quickly identify body parts on a battlefield or at the scene of a disaster like the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

It may also reduce the number of DNA tests required in an investigation, potentially saving time and money and easing the growing backlog, he said. Results from tests on blood serum or dried blood can be ready in two hours, a fraction of the time it takes to run similar tests for DNA matches.

By CatGirl on Apr 28, 2008, 11:20 in Off Topic.

CatGirl says on Apr 28, 2008, 11:21:

Ok - Proof of 2 of my Theories

1) Genetics is the future!

2) Don't mess with anyone from Idaho

Puuurr

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Apr 28, 2008, 11:25:

There is one drawback to this....the National Antibody Database is pretty whimpy, so things will take a bit to launch

OK, also - 2 investments tips from Kitty

1) Invest in upstart companies or tech companies that support this type of data collection (DNA, Antibodies etc)

2) Invest in the company(s) that is/are now developing the new "required" public defibrillator's. As you know, they are everywhere - hotels, airports, malls. But now there is a problem and they all must be replaced!! So invest before this happens. Unfortunately, I cannot give the name...you have to do that footwork :)

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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webmanco says on Apr 28, 2008, 12:53:

Would the Idaho Lab help finding a real DNA test to find out the level of Colombianims on anyone claiming to be more colombian and having more knowglege of Colombia than anybody else?

Would they?

While in Idaho be careful CatGirl.

(I really hate it when women get their panties all bunched up their butt, they can get so cranky!) Poor butt happy

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MaFe says on Apr 28, 2008, 14:33:

Cg, that's pretty interesting....genetics! science!

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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CatGirl says on Apr 28, 2008, 16:35:

Webman Would the Idaho Lab help finding a real DNA test to find out the level of Colombianims on anyone claiming to be more colombian and having more knowglege of Colombia than anybody else?¨¨
Would they?"
"While in Idaho be careful CatGirl."

Webman - Did I miss some posts and this is connected to some joke I missed? Or did I make a comment elsewhere someone misunderstood?
Please clarify. Gracias

BTW sweetie - I need not be careful in Idaho ;). No Problemas ....the police pull me over so much, just to see who I am I practically have a police escort when I visit ;)))

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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webmanco says on Apr 28, 2008, 20:31:

ManTequila
I hear they've just come out with a blood test that measures Colombianidad levels. These tend to be higher in folks with the Arepa gene.

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/there-seems-to-be-a-dumbing-down...

(I really hate it when women get their panties all bunched up their butt, they can get so cranky!) Poor butt happy

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CatGirl says on Apr 28, 2008, 20:44:

Gracias Amigo....helps much. I was lost but now I am found ;)))

Sometimes I don't get the luxury of seeing most of the posts..... to answer your question? Dunno. I wish I knew more about Genetics than I do. I am thinking of switching to that area and moving anyways.

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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