Robots take over DNA tests

Dec 12 2008

Two £100,000 robots which can carry out DNA tests up to three times faster than conventional testing have entered service at Scottish labs.

The new DNA automation process, the first such technology operating in Scotland, has been introduced at the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) forensic science laboratories in Dundee and Glasgow.

The robots are each capable of testing up to 78 DNA samples in about 24 hours, compared with a manual approach which can take two people up to three days.