Rare DNA samples saved at UNLV despite power cut

Centre's $300,000 investment in forensic science and microbiology analysis equipment doesn't miss a beat during 36-minute power outage, completes all tests runs containing rare DNA samples

A recent 36-minute power outage could have been devastating for the $3.7million UNLV Biotechnology Center at the Shadow Lane Campus in Las Vegas, NV.

While some of the centre's critical computer systems fried, its $300,000 investment in Applied Biosystems (ABI) genetic analysis and DNA amplification instrumentation ran smoothly and completed all test runs containing rare DNA samples.

Without the instrumentation-grade power protection systems provided by Franek Technologies, the centre would have been brought to a sudden halt resulting in not only significant financial loss, but more importantly, the destruction of irreplaceable DNA samples.

At the time of the outage, the centre was running a real-time PCR run, a quantifier run on an ABI 7000, and capillary electrophoresis separation and analysis on ABI's 3100 Avant.

The results of these tests were critical for a confidential case on which the centre was conducting mitochondrial DNA analysis, as well as its own training programmes.

Loss of these test samples would have delayed results by weeks, even months, making it impossible to meet its research deadlines.

But none of these dire consequences happened thanks to a change in the way many laboratories now prepare in advance for such contingencies.

Whether it is a forensic science laboratory, like the UNLV Biotechnology Center, or a laboratory that processes samples to identify what pathogen may be threatening public health, there is a way to preserve samples and the results of highly-sensitive tests halted in mid-process by power glitches and outages.

Four years ago, when Walter Goldstein, coordinator of the UNLV Biotechnology Center, laid the foundation for his forensics laboratory, he realised that the standard surge protector used for a computer might stop a quick power spike but it wasn't going to do anything to protect the centre's critical test results from being ruined.

Those results could have profound effects on peoples' lives.

His concerns were compounded by the risk posed to the centre's $300,000 investment in instrumentation that could be irreparably damaged by sudden power loss while in the midst of operation.

Goldstein contacted the manufacturer of the instruments, Applied Biosystems, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (laboratory project consultants), and the building engineers for a solution.

The unanimous recommendation was to contact Franek Technologies for a certified laboratory power-protection system (LPS) for forensic DNA analysis instrument and lab protection.

Less than 30 days from the initial inquiry, through the placement of an order, and production of the LPS units, the solution arrived at his laboratory, pre-configured for his instrumentation, in the form of five Franek Technologies LPS power protection systems.

From acclaimed CSI laboratories, to hospital and research laboratories, to field units in Baghdad, Iraq, Franek Technologies is providing a unique and essential solution to keep very expensive, highly sensitive laboratories operational without loss of investment and without corruption and subsequent loss of valid results.

The company's certified power protection systems allow tests being run to be completed and fragile instruments to be protected, saving weeks and sometimes months of downtime, while saving the laboratories from suffering severe financial losses.

"The level of power protection offered by Franek Technologies is unmatched", Goldstein explains.

"Any lab running sensitive instrumentation needs to understand that this level of protection is not a luxury, it's a requirement to ensure the viability of research conducted".

"To rely on standard surge protectors shows poor judgment and, in my opinion, is just plain foolish.".

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