A Vision to Promote the Forensic DNA Facility at Al-Nahrain University in Terms of Safety Measures

The forensic DNA facility at Al-Nahrain University was established in 2011 with a clear message to be as a training and research center in Iraq. Iraq is still suffering from the existence of many mass graves in different provinces, and complicated criminal cases. Predominantly, the forensic DNA facility will offer a solid platform to support forensic investigations as casualties in most cases are anonymous to the government. The forensic DNA investigation laboratories were built without any considerations to safety measures and standard laboratories ergonomics. Herein, we report a genuine safety program adopted and performed by some experts to alleviate all safety problems that were reported in the laboratories as well as qualifying those according international standards of safety. The forensic DNA facility at Al-Nahrain University now is considered as a typical example in Iraq and we aim for becoming an internationally accredited center in the Middle East in the near future. In this concern, the vision implemented is to be achieved via complying with international standards and making collaboration with the International Committee on Missing Persons (ICMP).


INTRODUcTION
Offering a safe and an ergonomic place for conducting a chemical or biological activity has been one of the highly important prerequisites in any industrial or research amenity [1][2][3][4] .Albeit, in some cases, there might be some inadvertency or even not adequate testing and checking for various reasons.
The Forensic DNA facility at Al-Nahrain University was established in 2011 for a genuine aim.This aim stems from the fact that Iraq at the present time urgently needs a national capacity which is capable of performing a forensic DNA investigation.Precisely speaking, the DNA analyses will assist in the identity verification for those who are found in mass graves since 2003.This facility has ver y sophisticated laboratories in terms of equipment.Nevertheless, these laboratories were not build according to international standards [5][6][7][8][9][10] .Consequently, after two years there were many faults started to appear.In this paper, we show some of the faults in the laboratories and the vision that we employed to renovate the laboratories and make them safer, and more consistent with the international standards.
Problems and Faults in the Laboratories 1.
Benches' surface was not coated with a chemical-resistant material, e.g.epoxy paint.This was confirmed by performing a test via adding some strong acids and some solvents.Namely, HCl, HNO 3 , H 2 SO 4 , acetone, and diethyl ether as shown in Figure-2.

2.
Some cracks between the bench and the metal frame were noticed (as shown in Bench drawers were also corroded as we noticed a powder of iron oxide inside.This is ascribed to the fact that there was a storage for chemical substances inside them as shown in Figure-5.

5.
Drawers and cabinets cannot be properly closed after two years of use which means that they are not durable enough to be used in a laboratory as shown below in Figure-6.

6.
Fire extinguishers were placed in hidden positions and out of reach.As shown in figure-7.

7.
Building pillars showed some corrosion at the base as depicted in Figure -8.The distribution of equipment in the laboratory is more organized than before as shown in Figure -15.
After achieving all necessary steps to qualify the laboratories, we are completely confident that they coincide with the international laboratory standards.At the moment, the laboratory is recognized as an independent research facility and a

Figure- 3 )
Figure-3) which we believe that if there is a chemical spill, chemical will seep into it.3. Sinks were made of a metal susceptible to corrosion as shown in Figure-4.4.Bench drawers were also corroded as we noticed a powder of iron oxide inside.This is ascribed to the fact that there was a storage for chemical substances inside them as shown in Figure-5.5.Drawers and cabinets cannot be properly closed after two years of use which means that they are not durable enough to be used in a laboratory as shown below in Figure-6.

The renovations carried out on the laboratories 1 .
Old benches were replaced with new ones (as illustrated in Figure-9) which have the following characteristics: (a) Resistant to chemicals.(b) The new benches have some elevated edges in order to avoid any dripping of liquid chemicals in case of spills as shown in Figure-10.(c) The new benches and sinks are of the same material.That is why the sinks are also resistant to corrosives as demonstrated in Figure-11.

2 .
Providing laboratories with new biological cabinets which ensures the optimum safety measures to protect personnel as shown in Figure-12.3. Installing sur veillance camera inside laboratories (as depicted in Figure-13).

Fig. 11 :
Fig. 11: The new sinks (left hand side) are made of chemical-proof materials