Austin police have temporarily suspended operations at their DNA lab after concerns were raised by the Texas Forensic Science Commission.
The Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV report that the suspension also came from a lack of properly trained supervision and the need to allow staff to learn a new federally required way of verifying evidence.
The decision means that hundreds of DNA samples will go either to the Texas Department of Public Safety lab or to private labs for analysis. That could possibly delay the outcome of pending cases in already backlogged Travis County criminal courts.
The department has notified the organization that accredits DNA labs that it will cease operations, possibly until the end of 2016.
Assistant Police Chief Troy Gay said the move is a "proactive" step.
