Forensics
Forensics is the application of science in a courtroom setting. Aurora not only offers conventional tools for reducing the burden of constant case sample workload but initially worked with crime labs developing an alternative laboratory workflow to a conventional way of isolating male DNA from crime scene evidence. In addition to developing methods, Aurora is preparing and pushing future technologies within Forensics, currently, Aurora offers automated solutions for three disciplines:
Sexual Assault Kit Processing
Differential Digestion via Selective Degradation
Police departments are using selective degradation utilizing DNase I on the VERSA 1100 liquid handling workstation to reduce the backlog of untested sexual assault kits. Assay optimization and validation succeeded in reducing wash steps, centrifugation, thereby increasing sample throughput. This new method had to undergo a rigorous validation by the National Institute of Justice for the results gained to be admissible in court.
Massively Parallel Sequencing
Automated Library/Sample Preparation
Having been involved in next-generation sequencing for core sequencing facilities and academic institutions, it was a natural progression to transfer that experience over to the forensic community. Aurora is actively collaborating with technology and research partners to automate massively parallel sequencing workflows by making it available to forensic scientists.
Drugs of Abuse
Solid Phase/Liquid-Liquid Extraction
Serving the basic needs of a laboratory is at the core of Aurora, conventional tools preparing samples and dealing with the ever-increasing amount of casework submissions for determining concentrations of drugs of abuse is an aspect no lab can overlook. Automation is a stepping stone in dealing with the pressures of sample turn around with what is considered to be a standard technique.