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From Yahoo!: http://m.yahoo.com/w/news_asia/dna-samples...amp;.lang=en-sg DNA samples from criminal cases to be re-tested after HSA mistake By Fann Sim | Yahoo! Newsroom - 34 minutes ago DNA samples in 87 criminal cases will be re-tested following the discovery of an error by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA)'s DNA profiling laboratory. In a statement on Tuesday, the HSA said in August it was found that a reagent of 10 times higher than usual concentration was prepared and used as part of the DNA testing process. The batch of reagent was used between October 2010 and August 2011, but the impact of the reagent used is small, HSA said. The error rendered DNA tests less sensitive in detecting DNA profiles present in samples. The retesting is expected to yield additional DNA profiles in less than 5 per cent of the samples, HSA added. To date, the first set of re-test results showed that only 2 out of 850 samples indicated additional reportable information, such as a DNA profile of another person not previously detected was obtained. HSA assured that the previous tests will not cause any false positive results leading to wrongful identification of a person or inferring the presence of a person who was not there. Separately, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) released a statement and said it has requested re-testing from the 87 cases in which DNA test results may be relied upon by the Prosecution, the Defence of the courts. DNA evidence by itself does not prove any person

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews...324-269935.html The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) today announced that it will extend its suspension on the import of all fruits and vegetables to include Chiba and Ehime with immediate effect. Four samples of vegetables tested were found to contain radioactive contaminants. These were imported from the affected prefectures of Tochigi and Ibaraki, as well as Chiba and Ehime which are outside the affected areas. 161 samples of fresh produce such as seafood, fruits, vegetables and meat have been tested to date. From the shipment imported yesterday, the following were found to be contaminated: Mitsuba (Japanese wild parsley), Nanohana (Rape seed plant), Mizuna (Japanese mustard), and Perilla Leaf. All the affected shipment have been detained and will be disposed of. There is no cause for alarm, however, as an adult would need to consume 3.5 kg of these vegetables to receive a similar level of radiation exposure from one x-ray. According to the Ministry of Health, the short-term consumption of food at these detected levels of radioactive contamination does not pose a health hazard. AVA will continue to closely monitor and test food imports from Japan, and has extended the testing of food products from Japan to include high risk processed food such as infant formula and fresh dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cream.