A new Louisiana audit found gaps in how sexual assault kits are tested, tracked and followed up on after potential DNA matches.
What to know
The Louisiana Legislative Auditor found that 337 of 1,879 reported sexual assault kits collected from July 2024 through December 2025 had not been submitted to a crime lab as of February 2026. The report also found that the state’s tracking system can show incomplete or inaccurate information about a kit’s location and status.
Why weren’t all kits tested?
State law requires law enforcement to send reported kits to a crime lab, but it does not clearly require labs to test every kit they receive. The auditor found that labs and law enforcement agencies handle testing decisions differently.
The auditor recommended clearer rules on which kits must be tested.
What did auditors find about kit tracking?
At least 560 of 2,138 kits collected during the same period did not meet required deadlines for law enforcement pickup or submission to a crime lab.
The state’s tracking system also has limited status options, and not all agencies participate. That can leave survivors without accurate information about where their kit is in the process.
The auditor said Louisiana lacks an oversight authority and penalties to enforce tracking requirements.
What about DNA matches?
The audit examined potential matches found through the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS. At least 39 kits collected in fiscal year 2025 led to a CODIS hit that year.
Auditors recommended clearer procedures for notifying agencies about potential matches and tracking law enforcement follow-up. State law now requires Louisiana State Police to create a system to track unresolved CODIS hits.
Why it matters
The audit found that survivors may not always get accurate updates about their kits, and agencies do not consistently track follow-up on DNA leads. Auditors recommended stronger oversight, more accurate tracking information and consistent procedures for handling potential matches.
Read the full report here.
READ MORE:Louisiana audit reveals major gaps in sexual assault kit testing and tracking
