Phoenix Police Department’s crime lab certified to process COVID-19 tests

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Police Department’s crime lab is the first and only crime lab in the country to be certified to process COVID-19 tests, which will allow them to assist with death investigations.

With the certification, the crime lab is able to use special DNA testing equipment to determine if people had coronavirus when they passed away, which can assist the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office in death investigations.

Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego toured the lab as it was processing results on Monday.

.@PhoenixPolice’s crime lab is the first and only in the country to be certified to process #COVID19 tests. After one week of testing, @MayorGallego and @PhxPDChief Jeri Williams tour the lab that passed rigorous requirements to be eligible. @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/nYUYO00tIt

— Ali Vetnar (@Ali_Vetnar) November 2, 2020

“I am pleased to see what’s going to happen with this effort as COVID cases go on the rise – we’re going to need to step up and assist more and this is one great example,”  Williams said.

The Phoenix Police Department initially approached Phoenix City Council about taking on this role because their crime lab already has the DNA testing equipment, unlike medical examiners.

The department’s crime lab started this testing in October. To date, 25 cases have been complete.

Crime lab administrator Jody Wolf said the lab is able to assist families with finding out if their loved one had COVID-19 when they passed.

“Our job is to help support the Arizona Department of Health Services so that they can focus on testing in a diagnostic fashion for living patients,” Wolf said.

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