The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) announced it will retest approximately 4,000 DNA samples after discovering that faulty test kits were used for eight months. These kits, which were in use from July 2024 to February 2025, were found to have “intermittently poor performance,” potentially leading to incomplete results. The issue came to light after a current employee noticed a letter from the kit manufacturer, sent in August 2024, warning about the defects. The letter had been forwarded to a former employee of the department’s Scientific Services Bureau, causing a delay in addressing the problem.
Sheriff Robert Luna emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of forensic testing and announced an internal investigation to ensure such errors do not recur. The department is working with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to assess the impact and ensure transparency in ongoing and future cases. Although the faulty kits are not believed to have falsely identified any individuals, the retesting aims to ensure the accuracy of criminal investigations.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that his office is collaborating with the sheriff’s department to keep all parties informed and to ensure the integrity of the criminal justice process. The situation has also affected other agencies, prompting a thorough review of the testing procedures.
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