Case Study: Sao Paulo Criminal Institute achieves rapid identification of 126 crash victims with LabVantage Solutions' LIMS

The Role Of Dna In Brazil’s Largest Aviation Tragedy

Sao Paulo Criminal Institute faced the daunting task of identifying victims from the July 17, 2007 TAM Airlines crash, where remains were exposed to extreme heat and heavily degraded biological material. To support DNA extraction, quantification and kinship matching at scale, the Institute engaged partners and used a laboratory information management system (SQL*LIMS) that was tailored for human identification work by LabVantage Solutions.

LabVantage Solutions redesigned the LIMS to enable rapid DNA profile storage, kinship statistical comparisons and fast database searches, while field specialists supported quantification and genotyping workflows. Using the customized LabVantage system and targeted PCR/typing protocols, the team processed ~280 sample lots (≈570 extractions), completed the extraction-to-search workflow within 48 hours, produced only 2 inconclusive lots, and enabled DNA identification of 126 victims (most identifications completed within the first 15–30 days).

Sao Paulo Criminal Institute