NDIS (National DNA Index System)
Definition
The uppermost tier of the US CODIS architecture, holding profiles contributed by all US federal and state DNA database programs. As of 2023 it holds over 21 million profiles.
- Full name
- National DNA Index System
- Position
- Uppermost tier of US CODIS architecture
- Contributors
- All US federal and state DNA database programs
- Size, 2023
- Over 21 million profiles
Common questions
How does NDIS relate to the state and local levels of CODIS?+
CODIS is organised in tiers, with local (LDIS) and state (SDIS) indexes feeding upward, and only profiles meeting eligibility criteria are uploaded to NDIS, so NDIS represents the searchable national pool rather than every DNA profile any single lab has ever generated.
Does a hit at NDIS level identify a suspect directly?+
A CODIS hit is an investigative lead, not a courtroom identification on its own. It points law enforcement to a candidate profile, which then requires confirmatory testing on a fresh reference sample before it can be used as evidence of identity.
Related terms
- Amelogenin
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- CODIS (Combined DNA Index System)
- The FBI-managed software architecture for the US national forensic DNA database, operating through a three-tier structure of local (LDIS), state (SDIS), and...
- DNA Technology Bill 2019
- India's pending legislation proposing the creation of a national DNA database (NDDB) and a profiling regulatory framework. Passed the Lok Sabha in...
- ESS (European Standard Set)
- The set of STR loci required for profiles entered into EU national databases participating in Prüm cross-border DNA exchange. Currently aligned with...
- INTERPOL DNA Gateway
- INTERPOL's secure server for cross-national DNA profile comparison, hosted in Lyon. As of 2023, fifty-nine member countries contribute profiles.
- Prüm Decisions
- EU Council Decisions 2008/615/JHA and 2008/616/JHA requiring EU member states to allow automated cross-border DNA database comparison using a hit/no-hit system.
- SE33 (ACTBP2)
- An extremely polymorphic STR locus with over 90 known alleles, included in ESS17 but not in CODIS 20. Provides high discriminatory power...