Government Laboratory
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Biochemical Sciences Sections
The Biochemical Sciences Sections comprise two sections, A and B, which work in parallel and which are responsible for the identification and individualization of biological evidence materials submitted for examination. These come mostly from crimes against the person/property, such as homicide, rape, burglary, etc. The aim of the examination is in attempting to trace the source of a particular piece of evidence material. For example, bloodstaining /semen staining found in a rape case can be shown to be indistinguishable from that of a suspect; or, an abandoned foetus can be shown to be the possible offspring of a couple (parentage analysis) in an infanticide case; or, a piece of meat is shown to be of canine origin in an illegal meat sale.
The professional officers in the sections are also involved in some special examinations, particularly in the area of blood spatter pattern interpretation at crime scenes.
Biochemical Sciences A Section
| Senior Chemist and Chemist (E-mail address) |
Tel. No. |
| Mr. P W Wong, Senior Chemist (pwwong@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3783 |
| Mr. C W Chau, Chemist (cwchau@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3778 |
| Dr. C M Pang, Chemist (cmpang@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3798 |
| Ms. Lydia L M Wong, Chemist (lmwong@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3777 |
Ms. Sarah S M Yeung, Chemist |
2762-3766 |
Biochemical Sciences B Section
| Senior Chemist and Chemist (E-mail address) |
Tel. No. |
Ms. Christina Li, Senior Chemist |
2762-3770 |
| Ms. Carmen K M Chan, Chemist (kmchan@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3773 |
| Ms. Fanny L F Fung, Chemist (lffung@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3774 |
| Mr. Ivan S H Ho, Chemist (shho@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3772 |
| Dr. Stephen C Y Ip, Chemist (cyip@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3799 |
| Ms. Priscilla S W Lin, Chemist (swlin@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3763 |
Starting from 1998, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based DNA profiling has become the main analytical method for the examination of biological evidence in forensic casework. In 2004, a new analytical kit has been introduced into the system, which enables simultaneous amplification of up to fifteen DNA characteristics plus sex. This analytical kit together with a new robotic workstation and detection platform has greatly enhanced the sample throughput, efficiency, sensitivity and degree of certainty in the identification of the source of samples, with the discrimination among the population for a person being up to the order of quadrillions to one.
The following instruments are used routinely by the Section:
Key Performance Measures Relating to the Forensic Science Services
Targets
Targets are defined as the percentage of completed cases whose individual case-completion time does not exceed a specified number of working day(s)
| Category | Targets | 2009 (Actual) |
2010 (Actual) |
2011 (Plan) |
| Biochemical grouping (DNA profiling) - | ||||
| non-complicated cases completed within 66 working days (%) | 90 | 98# | 97 | 90 |
| complicated cases completed within 130 working days (%) | 90 | 99# | 91 | 90 |
| # | From 2010 onwards, the target of "non-complicated cases" under "biochemical grouping (DNA profiling)" has been enhanced from completion within 88 working days to completion within 66 days; and the target of "complicated cases" from completion within 154 working days to completion within 130 working days. The actual figures for "non-complicated cases" and "complicated cases" in 2009 were based on the previous targets of completion within 88 and 154 working days respectively. |
Key Indicators
Key indicators are the number of cases completed
| Number of Cases Investigated | 2009 (Actual) |
2010 (Actual) |
2011 (Estimate) |
| Biochemical sciences - non-complicated complicated |
1,296 1,585 |
786 1,520 |
1,000 1,550 |
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