PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
This new program is the first of its kind for organizations conducting IGG activities
Frederick, Md (August 31, 2026)— The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), a global, nonprofit accreditation body, has launched an Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Accreditation Program, which assesses organizations that conduct IGG activities. This program is the first of its kind and gives IGG organizations credibility in criminal proceedings.
Accreditation is synonymous with quality and competence, and demonstrates technical credibility through formal, third-party validation. It confirms that a forensic inspection organization is technically competent, impartial, and reliable, and ensures their findings are credible. In addition, by following these globally recognized standards, accredited investigation activities can stand up to the intense scrutiny of a defense counsel in the court of law.
While many forensic testing laboratories are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 (the accreditation standard for testing laboratories), IGG activities need to meet a different set of requirements: ISO/IEC 17020:2026, a globally recognized standard for inspection bodies.
ISO/IEC 17020 emphasizes professional judgment, documentation, and decision-making rigor. It also promotes training, competency monitoring, and adoption of best practices. Inconsistent or poorly documented inspection practices can compromise evidence integrity, but an ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation safeguards forensic inspection work and supports accurate, credible, and fair outcomes in the justice system. ISO/IEC 17020 also supports organizations that investigate crime scenes, digital forensics, and latent prints.
What is FIGG?
Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) is the investigative work of law enforcement using the leads generated by IGG. Since its emergence in 2018, FIGG has quickly become one of the most powerful tools for criminal investigators and has led to the resolution of more than 1,600 cold cases, many of which are decades old.
Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) is the genealogy portion of FIGG, when investigators use DNA databases and public records to create family trees and generate investigative leads for law enforcement.
Several high-profile cold cases have been solved using FIGG in recent years, including the Golden State Killer case, The Bear Brook Murders, and the murders of four University of Idaho students in 2022.
How Does IGG Work?
When DNA from a perpetrator or unidentified victim is collected from a crime scene, a short tandem repeat (STR) DNA profile is generated and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), an FBI database used to compare DNA profiles from federal, state, and local crime laboratories. If the profile already exists in CODIS, law enforcement can make an identification. However, if the profile isn’t found, investigators can use IGG instead to help lead them in the right direction.
When IGG is utilized, a new DNA profile is generated from an unknown sample using next-generation sequencing or microarray methods. This profile is then uploaded to genetic genealogy databases that are authorized for law enforcement use, typically in cases involving unidentified human remains or suspects in violent crimes.
Within these databases, the unknown profile is compared to DNA profiles voluntarily submitted by other users. Each database includes privacy settings that allow individuals to opt in or opt out of law enforcement matching.
The results of these comparisons show the amount of DNA shared between the unknown individual and potential genetic relatives. In general, more shared DNA corresponds to a closer biological relationship. When multiple related individuals are identified and share DNA with one another, they form genetic networks that can point to common ancestors.
By integrating these genetic relationships with traditional genealogical research, genealogists can suggest potential investigative leads regarding the identity of the unknown individual. Then, leads can later be confirmed using traditional STR testing using a family reference tester for unidentified human remains (UHR) or a collected sample from a suspect.
For more information about A2LA’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy Program, visit A2LA.org/accreditation/investigative-genetic-geneaology-igg-accreditation-program today.
For more information about A2LA, visit A2LA.org/about, or email us at info@A2LA.org.
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A2LA is a non-profit, non-governmental, third-party accreditation organization offering internationally recognized accreditation services to testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, biobanking facilities, stand-alone sampling organizations, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers, and product certifiers. For more information, visit https://A2LA.org.
Media contact: Wallis Reed; wreed@A2LA.org; 301-644-3230