LONDON, Ohio — The director of Ohio’s crime lab says he wants to substantially reduce the time it takes to process evidence, especially items containing DNA.

State investigators currently need about 125 days — more than four months — to process biological evidence, typically blood or other body fluids that could link a suspect to a crime.

The superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, Tom Stickrath, also wants to reduce the 49 days needed for chemical analysis of evidence and the 43 days for fingerprints.

Stickrath says the lab will speed processing by hiring more forensic scientists, adding equipment and doing a top-to-bottom analysis of how the lab handles evidence.

Improving the crime lab was a campaign priority for Stickrath’s boss, Attorney General Mike DeWine.

First Published March 16, 2011, 10:55 a.m.