News

Press release

Forensic Laboratory of the National Bureau of Investigations renews information management system with new solution provided by Software Point

The Forensic Laboratory of the National Bureau of Investigations, which celebrated its centenary in December 2008, is renewing and expanding its information management system to cover all of its twenty-two crime investigation areas. The implementation of the system is the largest separate development project in the laboratory’s history, logistically and economically. When the project is completed by the end of 2009, the new information management system will be amongst the very best in its class in the world. The system is based on web technology, and will merge all distinct sectors of the forensic laboratory’s data management into one complete system. The solution is being delivered by Finnish company Software Point.

Today, the Forensic Laboratory offers a wide range of laboratory services for crime and accident investigation. These include fingerprinting, DNA analysis, shape comparison and drug investigations, as well as other chemical-based research methods. Over the past ten years, the number of requests processed by the Laboratory has almost doubled. In 2008, the total number of investigations was around 18 000, and some 45 000 samples were handled. In addition to investigations, the Laboratory maintains DNA and fingerprint registers. In 2008, around 16 000 people’s DNA and fingerprint data were added to the registers.

The Forensic Laboratory handles an enormous stream of information daily in its investigation areas. Only the drug and DNA sectors currently have a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS); the remaining sectors have no electronic system to handle results, and work is performed largely manually.

A comprehensive, all-encompassing information system for a large organization would usually be tailor-made piece by piece, which is an expensive and time-consuming process. The LIMS delivered by Software Point is a ready-made solution which can process and manage data considerably more efficiently, in terms of both time and money. It will consolidate data from all of the Laboratory’s investigation areas into one database. The centralized system has an intuitive, web-based user interface which can be accessed from any workstation via a web browser, thus needing no additional software installations.

When the Forensic Laboratory brings the LIMS into full use by the end of this year, it will be possible to give customers real-time information about investigation phases, as well as estimated times of completion. It will enable retrieval of statistics on performance levels, aiding the Laboratory in resource allocation, as well as observation of various other trends and phenomena. The LIMS can also help in the development of internal laboratory processes, for example, by surveying resource needs and monitoring delivery times, as well as in the management of Quality Control / Quality Assurance of research. It also supports electronic services.

The Forensic Laboratory of the National Bureau of Investigations is situated in Tikkurila, Vantaa. The Laboratory employs 125 persons. Software Point has specialized in the delivery of Laboratory Information Management Systems to manufacturing and healthcare laboratories since 1992. Software Point is the market leader in the Nordics, having delivered more than 500 laboratory information systems to its customers. Software Point has subsidiaries in all the Nordic countries, and employs more than 60 professionals. In 2008, the revenue of the company was 6.5 million Euros. The corporate headquarters are situated in Espoo, Finland.

For more information:
Forensic laboratory, Deputy Manager, Dr. Erkki Sippola,
Tel. +358 9 8388 6329
Software Point, CEO, Dr. Tech. Andrea Holmberg,
Tel. +358 9 4391 320


The press release in Finnish was published in several Finnish medias:

Helsingin Sanomat - 23.3.2009
Rikoslaboratorio uskoo uuden järjestelmän tehostavan rikostutkintaa

Digitoday - Uusi tietojärjestelmä helpottaa rikostentorjuntaa
 http://www.digitoday.fi/data/2009/03/23/uusi-tietojarjestelma-helpottaa-rikostentorjuntaa/20097701/66

it-viikko
http://www.itviikko.fi/ratkaisut/2009/03/23/uusi-tietojarjestelma-helpottaa-rikostentorjuntaa/20097645/7

Talouselämä - KRP:n rikoslaboratorio saa lisää potkua
http://www.talouselama.fi/stt/article259785.ece