Utah Cold Case Coalition plans first nonprofit DNA test lab

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah organization dedicated to closing unsolved crime cases plans to launch what it says is the first DNA testing lab operated by a nonprofit.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports The Utah Cold Case Coalition announced Thursday it has leased space in Salt Lake City and expects that by the end of the year the lab will begin processing DNA samples in Utah and then in national cases.

Officials say the organization needs to raise $200,000 for lab equipment and has started a GoFundMe.com campaign with an initial target of $81,000.

Police say there is often a backlog of DNA tests from crime scenes, rape kits and other evidence that can take eight to 18 months to process and is prohibitively expensive for small departments that use private testing.

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