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SWGDAM Mission Statement

 

The Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods, known as SWGDAM, serves as a forum to discuss, share, and evaluate forensic biology methods, protocols, training, and research to enhance forensic biology services as well as provide recommendations to the FBI Director on quality assurance standards for forensic DNA analysis.

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About SWGDAM

 

SWGDAM is currently comprised of dedicated forensic scientists, from international, federal, state and local forensic DNA laboratories as well as guests representing academia and other Federal agencies. These forensic scientists serve as the DNA technical leaders or Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) Administrators for their laboratories, and are able to offer the perspectives of practitioners in the areas of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA technologies. SWGDAM is also fortunate to have invited guests attend each meeting representing academia, other Federal laboratories and international agencies to provide their specific expertise in areas such as mitochondrial DNA, population genetics, statistics, and YSTRs.

The responsibilities of SWGDAM are: (1) to recommend revisions, as necessary, to the Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories and the Quality Assurance Standards for DNA Databasing Laboratories; (2) to serve as a forum to discuss, share, and evaluate forensic biology methods, protocols, training, and research to enhance forensic biology services; and (3) to recommend and conduct research to develop and/or validate forensic biology methods. We hold semi-annual meetings in January and July and our Committees meet more frequently as issues arise.

Updates

The FBI Has Approved Changes to the QAS Effective July 1, 2025!!! The FBI has approved changes to the Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories and Quality Assurance Standards for DNA Databasing Laboratories.  These changes will take effect on July 1, 2025.  To assist laboratories in their preparations for the issuance of the new 2025 QAS, links are provided here for pre-issuance copies as well as to comparison tables prepared by SWGDAM during its revision work 2020 Forensic QAS vs 2025 Forensic QAS and 2020 Databasing QAS vs 2025 Databasing QAS.

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New Interim Document Available!!! Please use the link provided for a pre-issuance draft of SWGDAM’s new Validation Guidelines for the Use of an Expert System with Forensic Samples which are being made available early to assist laboratories in their planning for potentially using such systems after the issuance of the new Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories (QAS) on July 1, 2025.

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Validation Guidelines for PGS Available for Public Comment!!! The new proposed SWGDAM Internal Validation of Fully Continuous Probabilistic Genotyping Systems Module is now available for public comment on the Public Comment Page. This document contains proposed guidelines for the internal validation of PGS based on the requirements of QAS Standard 8.  The deadline for submitting comments is February 14, 2025.

 

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Upcoming Meetings

 

SWGDAM Regular Meeting

July 15 - 17, 2025

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SWGDAM Regular Meeting

January 13 - 15, 2026

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Past Meetings


SWGDAM Regular Meeting (Virtual)

Jan 14 - 16, 2025
SWGDAM January 2025 Semi-Annual Report

SWGDAM Regular Meeting

July 9- 11, 2024

SWGDAM July 2024 Semi-Annual Report

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SWGDAM Regular Meeting

Jan 9 - 11, 2024

SWGDAM January 2024 Semi-Annual Report

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SWGDAM Regular Meeting

July 18 - 20, 2023

SWGDAM July 2023 Semi-Annual Report

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SWGDAM Regular Meeting (Virtual)

January 9 - 12, 2023

SWGDAM January 2023 Semi-Annual Report

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SWGDAM Regular Meeting (Virtual)
January 11-13, 2022

SWGDAM January 2022 Semi-Annual Report

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SWGDAM Regular Meeting (Virtual)

July 18-21, 2022

SWGDAM July 2022 Semi-Annual Report

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