After criticism by a judge during the Omagh bomb trial last year, the use of low copy number DNA testing as evidence in court has been given approval by the British government.
The North's Security Minister Paul Goggins has welcomed the publication of the report carried out by an independent forensic scientist.
During the Omagh bomb trial last year, the question was raised about the relaibility of low copy number DNA testing.
Sean Hoey was acquitted, and the judge strongly criticised the way items subjected to DNA testing had been collected and stored.
He also questioned the vailidity of the highly sensitive technique used. It led to the PSNI, along with police forces in England and Wales, suspending the use of such evidence in criminal investigations.
Low copy number DNA testing can analyse samples a thousand times smaller than a grain of salt.
But following a review commissioned by the British government, a leading forensic scientist has said the method of testing is scientifically valid and reliable.
He also said training is needed for police officers gathering evidence to ensure that items being tested are not contaminated.
Ruling out low copy number DNA testing in criminal cases would have had serious implications for the British legal system. It would have opened the way for challenges by anyone who had already been convicted on the basis of such evidence.
