Forensic DNA experts put hundreds of ‘cold-case’ sexual assaults back under the spotlight

May 9, 2025 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

A special team has been working at NSW Health Pathology’s Forensic Biology/DNA lab to test hundreds of historic Sexual Assault Investigation Kits (SAIKs) using the latest technology and search for DNA matches on the state and national DNA databases.

In a laboratory at the Forensic & Analytical Science Service (FASS) building in Lidcombe a team of 12 Forensic Scientists has spent two years working on the SAIK Backcapture Project.

A partnership with NSW Police, the team has painstakingly reassessed and examined hundreds of stored Sexual Assault Investigation Kits (SAIKs) for DNA using the latest technologies now available.

SAIKs are provided at the hospital after a sexual assault complaint is made and are used by medical and forensic examiners to collect evidence.

The purpose of the project was to bolster the existing criminal DNA database, identify links between scenes and offenders, and to ultimately gather intelligence and further investigative leads.

Team Leader of the SAIK Backcapture Project at FASS, Kylie Deece, (pictured above front row, second from left) says the SAIKs typically contain intimate swabs and items of clothing such as underwear.

A woman in a laboratory, wearing full PPE, examines a pair of underpants. — The team has examined hundreds of Sexual Assault Investigation Kits or SAIKs as part of the project, in collaboration with NSW Police.

“With assistance from NSW Police, our team received more than 780 SAIKs from police stations across NSW and some dating back as far as 23 years.”

Ms Deece says despite the age of some of the kits, state-of-the-art DNA testing methods available at NSW Health Pathology’s Forensic Biology/DNA laboratories means they have been able to successfully extract DNA from the SAIKs and upload the information to the NSW and National Criminal DNA databases.

“It’s been quite a successful project. We’ve had 310 uploads to the database from samples that would have otherwise remained in storage. Once profiles are uploaded to the database, it can provide intelligence for Police including potentially identifying serial sexual offenders,” she explained.

Some of the funding was also used to examine previously tested sexual assault samples after the original testing could not recover a DNA profile suitable for upload to the database.

“The technology for DNA testing has moved on significantly since some of those tests were done,” she said.

“Testing now is much more sensitive and we’re also able to target DNA from the male Y chromosome, which can help to identify offenders through a familial match.”

A woman works in a laboratory under a purple 'black-light'. — Ultraviolet light is used to examine evidence from the kits.

Ms Deece said the support of both the wider Forensic Biology/DNA and Receipt Unit sections of FASS has been crucial to the project’s success – providing expertise and training while continuing with already substantial workloads.

She also thanked the original Team Leader, Diana De Losa, who set solid foundations to ensure the best possible outcomes for the project.

NSW Police say the work sends a clear message to offenders that police never stop investigating incidents of sexual assault and abuse and it’s never too late to report an incident of sexual assault.

We’re here for the Lithgow region, 365 days a year!

May 3, 2025 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

Take a look behind the scenes at our pathology laboratory at Lithgow Hospital and meet some of the team caring for the local community.

Matthew O’Neal has been NSW Health Pathology’s laboratory manager at Lithgow since 2007.

During his 39-year career in pathology Matthew has worked in both the private and public sector, starting in Sydney and moving to Bathurst in the NSW Central West, before settling in Lithgow.

He says the small team is like a family and proud to be providing pathology services seven days a week to the Lithgow and surrounding community.

“Lithgow is a really great place to work and as lab manager I try to ensure the workplace is rewarding for our team,” he said.

“We’ve got a heavy focus on outpatients here, easily a third of our work is related to outpatients.

A man in an office smiling. — Matthew O’Neal says he’s proud of the services provided by the Lithgow laboratory and its dedicated staff.

The Lithgow laboratory boasts the latest technology, with a new chemical pathology analyser installed in July 2023 as part of NSW Health Pathology’s $29 million investment to upgrade analysers across Sydney and regional NSW, bringing in new levels of automation and standardisation.

The lab performs approximately 96,000 tests each year on around 20,000 samples with turn-around for most tests less than one hour.

The Lithgow laboratory performs all routine testing for Lithgow Hospital and local Justice Health; we recently added to our testing menu for the hospital’s Ambulatory Care Clinic to improve the service. Our twice-daily links with Nepean and Westmead Hospitals as well as the entire state-wide network supplement our test menu.

Matthew says he’s especially proud that the Lithgow lab and collection service is open seven days a week.

“I know the importance of having pathology services in the local community,” he said.

“My sister was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2014. It made me realise how difficult it can be for people to get to a collection service when it’s only open in business hours.

“Our collection service is open at Lithgow Hospital seven days a week, 7½ hours a day on weekdays from 8:30am to 4pm, and on weekends 10.30am to 1pm.

“We also have a collection service at Portland MPS, with more limited opening hours of 8.30am to 11.30am weekdays, so we are serving our community as much as possible.

“The laboratory is accessible to the hospital every day of the year – even Christmas Day – to provide fast and accurate results for patients and clinicians across the region,” Matthew said.

“We are on-call for the hospital Emergency Department and surgical theatres for any cases deemed clinically urgent 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Meet Cassandra Quinn – Technical Assistant (pathology collector)

Cassandra Quinn began work at the Lithgow laboratory in 2024 and says she enjoys the practical nature of being a collector.

She says collections allows her to engage directly with patients as well as perform technical tasks in the lab.

“I enjoy helping others and through pathology collection I can contribute to patient care, supporting patients through their healthcare journey,” she said.

“But what I enjoy the most is performing technical tasks such as drawing blood samples and processing.”

Cassandra Quinn in the collections room at Lithgow.

Cassandra says the team at Lithgow is incredibly supportive and working with a smaller team gives her the opportunity to learn from her more experienced colleagues.

“I’ve also recently been given an amazing opportunity to expand my knowledge and further my career by commencing my Certificate 4 in Laboratory Techniques through NSW Health Pathology.”

When it comes to living in Lithgow, Cassandra says she loves the stunning landscape and the sense of community in the town.

“I am a bodybuilder, cross-fitter and aerial athlete. I do all of these things locally which has allowed me to make an amazing social network here in Lithgow.

“With my newfound fit friends I go on some of the amazing trail runs in my surrounding area and join in a local bush walk every first Sunday of the month.”

A female bodybuilder wearing a blue sash and holding a sword aloft. — Cassandra at a bodybuilding competition.

Meet Hospital Scientist, Ryan Benton

Ryan is a Hospital Scientist at Lithgow laboratory and his work involves analysing samples, monitoring quality control and transfusion medicine.

His career with NSW Health Pathology began in 2018 when he started as a Technical Assistant at the Orange Laboratory.

“I’ve always had a broad interest in science and the human body, and pathology allowed me to be able to apply that in a field that is directly beneficial to the care of people in my community,” Ryan explains.

A man sitting in a laboratory, smiling. — Hospital scientist, Ryan Benton.

“What I love about my work, especially in a small lab such as Lithgow, is that it contains such variety.

“You frequently switch between chemistry, haematology and transfusion in a way that keeps the job engaging.

“The role also allows you to be much more patient facing, as we frequently collect blood from patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. I believe this helps to put a face to the work we are doing and acts a positive reminder that our patients are more than just tubes and numbers.”

Ryan grew up in a rural area of the Northern Territory and says he feels at home living and working in regional NSW.

He says he enjoys working within a small team environment and collaborating with other staff and departments throughout Lithgow hospital.

“Outside of work, my spare time is spent with my family and with my church. My wife and I are currently raising our 11-month-old son, who is a lot of work but also a lot of fun and a constant source of joy,” Ryan said. “My faith is very important to me.”

Are you anxious about needles and getting a pathology test?

April 14, 2025 by Sally Topp Leave a Comment

Firstly, know you’re not alone. We know it isn’t the most fun job on your to-do list. Estimates show that as many as 2 in 3 children and 1 in 4 adults have strong fears around needles.

Many people remember feeling discomfort or pain and worry it will happen again in future at other procedures involving needles. This is typical.

For some, these fears are more serious and can continue as you grow up. This is called a phobia.

Do you have a phobia?

People with a needle phobia feel a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including:

Anxiety and panic attacks
Dizziness and feeling light-headed
Fainting
Nausea and vomiting
Sweating and trembling
Fast heartbeat and shortness of breath
Feeling like you need to run from the situation.

Why do some people have needle phobias?

Needle phobia, also known as trypanophobia (trih-PAN-o-foe-bee-uh), can come from a past experience of pain.

There are biological factors that can make some people react very strongly to the thought of needles.

While the exact causes of needle phobias are unknown, there are many risk factors, such as:

Genetics: A family history of phobias or anxiety disorders can increase your risk.
Past negative experiences: Having a painful or traumatic experience with needles can trigger phobias.
Misinformation: Negative media or misleading information about needles can add to fear.

How we support you

We want you to have an easy, comfortable experience and get the care and treatment you need.

Our qualified and experienced collection staff are here to support you.

If you’re feeling nervous about a test, try our tips for making your visit easier.

Looking out for each other: our cyclone response

March 26, 2025 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

When Tropical Cyclone Alfred made landfall on Saturday 8 March 2025 as a category 1 cyclone, our people were prepared, ensuring vital blood supplies and pathology laboratories were available to communities in need.

The first tropical cyclone to cross the NSW and south-east Queensland coastline in 50 years brought destructive winds and significant rainfall and flooding. In NSW more than 80,000 homes and businesses lost power from Tweed Heads to Grafton, with thousands evacuated from their homes.

Despite the disruption, NSW Health Pathology’s extensive network of laboratories, collection centres and couriers continued their work, ensuring vital health services were able to function throughout the emergency.

For Cain Byrnes, A/NSW State Health Pathology Controller, careful preparations in the lead up were key.

“It was a matter of bringing people together and listening to what each region needed,” he said.

“We set up an Incident Management Team well in advance to begin preparations, bringing together our lab managers, senior operations representatives, Point of Care Testing, and a range of support portfolios to ensure we were best prepared for every situation,” he said.

“We created the conditions and gave local teams the support they needed to manage the response.

“I was so impressed with the way people across our labs worked together to ensure we had planned for any eventuality – at Lismore, Tweed, Grafton, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Kempsey.

“In particular, I’d like to thank our Grafton manager, Meredith Wiggs. She had been in the job less than 2 weeks when she was asked to begin preparations for this event. She stepped up and led her team, ensuring rosters were filled and resources available.

“Her own accommodation was flooded during the storm, but she remained at work, sleeping at the hospital overnight and continued to serve her community.”

Cain Byrnes led NSW Health Pathology’s Incident Management Team set up to respond to Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

“It was not what I was expecting to face just two weeks into my new job,” said Meredith Wiggs.

“I was so grateful to be offered a place to sleep in the nurse’s accommodation at the hospital, and to our Lismore laboratory for supporting our small team here at Grafton.

“Our lab’s new chemical pathology analysers were due to be installed just days after the cyclone hit and all that work and training for staff had to be delayed. But we’re getting back on track now.”

Several rooms were damaged by flooding at the new Tweed Heads laboratory, where staff also stayed for several nights to ensure pathology services could continue.

“I live across the border in Queensland and lost power for more than a week at my own home – but the staff here were fantastic,” said lab manager Owen Van Eck.

“Everyone pulled together, staying at the lab overnight and working extended hours to keep services running for our community.”

Our Coffs Harbour laboratory played a crucial role in the cyclone response, becoming a central hub to store essential products, such as blood, with Port Macquarie on standby.

NSW Health Pathology’s Emergency/Disaster Manager Scott Pearce said the response involved pooling resources to ensure each area had enough staff and supplies.

“People were looking out for each other and doing everything to assist neighbouring laboratories,” he said.

“Lismore set up a roster to send staff every day to Grafton which was in need of additional support.”

In Kempsey, lab manager Alison Stevenson had the additional responsibility of ensuring the cattle on her farm were safe from floodwaters.

On Sunday she had to race home to rescue some cattle stranded in rising waters.

“We had moved most of our cattle the day before, but we got a call that the river had overtopped the banks and would start to affect cattle in the paddocks along the Macleay Valley Way,” Alison explained.

“We were asked to help as the owner was isolated at another property and we had to move them across the road. We were lucky the SES came along and helped stop traffic so we could get the cattle to safety.”

A herd of cattle near a highway. — The old Pacific Highway was closed to allow the cattle to be moved to safety.

Lismore lab manager, Chris Nicol says he was proud to be leading a group of staff who were so focused on helping their colleagues.

“Lismore has been through so much flooding in recent years, it was tough for many of the staff to go through it all again,” he said.

“Not only did they go above and beyond to ensure services continued for their local community, they also didn’t think twice when asked to go to Grafton to assist the laboratory there.”

Chris says he was particularly relieved that his local coffee shop remained open on the weekend the cyclone hit.

“It was a huge boost to be able to get my morning coffee despite all the chaos going on!”

A cup of coffee on a table at a cafe. — A morning coffee was vital for the Lismore lab manager!

Senior Operations Manager for the North Coast Michael Crowther says he was proud to be leading the North Coast team.

“The dedication of the staff ensuring we were able to support the communities we work and live in was outstanding,” he said.

“Even when facing challenges with their own properties at risk, everyone worked together to support each other and our service to patients.

“It was truly wonderful to see the level of cooperation between the labs across the north coast.”

Cain Byrnes says there will be lessons to be learned from the response but overall showed the organisation working at its best.

“At the heart of what we do at NSW Health Pathology is look after people, and that was clearly evident in our response to Cyclone Alfred.”

Learning on the job while delivering essential services

March 17, 2025 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

NSW Health Pathology is proud to be part of the NSW Government’s 1000 NSW Public Sector Apprentices and Trainees Program. For Matthew, it’s a chance to transition into a rewarding health career.

Matthew Youhanna began his traineeship at NSW Health Pathology in 2024 as a Technical Assistant at our Nepean laboratory.

The traineeships are part of a statewide program supporting apprenticeships and traineeships across the healthcare, automotive, building and construction, IT and administration sectors.

Trainees receive a nationally recognised qualification upon completion, giving their career a kickstart and allowing them to earn a wage while learning.

Matthew says he was looking for a career change when he decided to take up the pathology traineeship.

“I am overwhelmed with the opportunity I have been given,” he said.

“The level of support I have received is setting me up for a career in NSW Health. I would encourage anyone to pursue a career in health, as I have found it so rewarding.”

He said he would like to gain experience in different aspects of pathology, beyond phlebotomy (blood and sample collections).

“I can see myself having a career in Haematology – something I am very passionate about.”

NSW Health Pathology’s Deputy Director People and Culture Jess Lee says the traineeships are proving a game-changer for the organisation.

“It’s been such a positive experience across our organisation in both metropolitan and regional laboratories and offices.

“The traineeships provide meaningful, hands-on experience, and in some cases rewarding interactions with patients.

“Our staff are also enjoying mentoring and guiding the trainees through their training journey with us,” she said.

First wind, then rain. Next come the mozzies – here’s how to reduce your risk of bites and infections

March 13, 2025 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

While some parts of southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales are still on alert for flooding, others are starting the difficult clean-up process as flood waters recede.

Stagnant water after floods provides the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. So as you clean up, remember to empty containers of water and other reservoirs around your house and yard such as water-filled boats, trailers and other large objects. Get rid of debris that may be collecting water too.

This year, mozzies are carrying the usual viruses we want to avoid, such as Ross River virus, but the potentially deadly Japanese encephalitis virus has also been detected in parts of New South Wales and Queensland.

Will more mozzies mean more disease?

In February 2020, floods in northern NSW boosted mosquito activity and increased cases of mosquito-borne diseases caused by Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses in subsequent months.

But while flood waters may boost mosquito numbers, outbreaks of disease don’t always follow. Hurricanes in North America have been associated with increased mosquito populations but few outbreaks of disease.

In Australia too, there are few examples of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks after cyclones – with a notable exception. After Tropical Cyclone Zoe made landfall in 1974, we had one of the one of the biggest outbreaks of Murray Valley encephalitis virus later in the year.

Warmer weather helps drive big mosquito populations, and the forecast predicts a warmer-than-normal autumn. So health authorities are on the lookout for outbreaks of disease.

Scientist inspecting a mosquito trap — Health authorities in Queensland and NSW are monitoring activity of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne pathogens.
A/Prof Cameron Webb (NSW Health Pathology)

Japanese encephalitis is already active

Somewhat dry conditions in the summer of 2024–25 have meant mosquito populations in many regions of eastern Australia have remained well below average.

But cases of Japanese encephalitis virus have been widely detected in Victoria, NSW and Queensland – in mosquitoes, piggeries and feral pigs.

Humans have also been infected. Cases are rare but the disease can be serious, with symptoms ranging from fever, headache, and vomiting through to disorientation, coma, seizure and brain swelling. One person has died of the virus this year.

Japanese encephalitis virus first arrived in southeastern Australia over the summer of 2021–2022. That followed extensive flooding across the Murray Darling Basin thanks to the arrival of La Niña. At the time, there were phenomenal numbers of mosquitoes that continued over subsequent years as the above average rainfall continued.

In the summer of 2022–23, a significant outbreak of Murray Valley encephalitis was also linked to ongoing flooding. This disease has similar symptoms to Japanese encephalitis and can also be fatal.

Mosquito numbers this summer have only been a fraction of what was recorded during those seasons influenced by La Niña. The activity of Japanese encephalitis in 2024–25 has scientists scratching their heads, as it goes against the commonly held theories that greater mosquito numbers combined with increased waterbird activity (typically following flooding) drive greater transmission of viruses such as Japanese and Murray Valley encephalitis.

Fortunately, there is no evidence of these viruses along the coast of southeast Queensland through to northern NSW.

But regions where the virus has already been active, such as Darling Downs in Queensland and Moree in NSW, may see substantial rainfall as a result of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Predicting outbreaks is incredibly difficult and relies not just on mosquito activity but also on on the dynamics of the the wildlife hosts that carry these viruses

But unpredictable mosquito-borne disease combined with extreme weather is not a good mix.

Don’t forget about Ross River virus

While not life threatening, disease caused by Ross River virus can be severely debilitating with joint pain and fatigue lasting many weeks or months.

Thousands of cases of infection are reported across the country each year, including in urban areas of southeast Queensland and northern NSW.

Concerns about Ross River diseases were already raised with heavy rain and flooding in northern Australia this summer. Case numbers often peak at the end or summer and early autumn. So there is potential for greater activity in the coming months.

Other mosquito-borne pathogens, such as Barmah Forest virus, may also be circulating and may cause cases of mild disease but these occur far less commonly than those due to Ross River virus infection.

Protect yourself while cleaning up

If you’re out cleaning up after the storms, try to avoid mosquito bites.

Cover up with long-sleeved shirts, long pants and covered shoes for a physical barrier against mosquito bites.

Use topical insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Be sure to apply an even coat on all exposed areas of skin for the longest-lasting protection.

For those living or working in regions of Queensland, NSW and Victoria at risk of Japanese encephalitis, a safe and effective vaccine is available.

Cameron Webb, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist NSW Health Pathology and University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.