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Tri County Biological Science Center opening in January to speed DNA testing and reduce multi-year backlogs
Summary
The Tri County Biological Science Center, funded by Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties, will open in late January to expedite forensic DNA testing—aiming for a 60–90 day turnaround versus current waits of three to five years—and plans initial capacity of roughly 500–600 DNA requests a year.
The Tri County Biological Science Center, a new regional forensic laboratory backed by Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties, is scheduled to open in late January and aims to sharply reduce forensic DNA testing delays that can stall criminal cases.
Thomas Vonconet, director of the laboratory, said the center’s principal purpose is to “expedite the process for the testing,” targeting a 60-to-90-day turnaround for results. He told the Charleston County Connects podcast that some jurisdictions currently wait “three to five years” for DNA results, a delay the new facility is intended to address.
The lab will accept submissions from regional agencies but agencies may choose where to send samples; Vonconet said triage will be based…
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