However, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman denied reports it would take more than a decade to clear the cases embroiled in the bungle, saying not all affected criminal prosecutions turned on DNA evidence.

The backlog is the by-product of a damning inquiry into the state’s forensic testing regime, which found many DNA samples went untested and the lab incorrectly ruled others “insufficient”.

The debacle continues to plague the state’s justice system as the government confirmed tens of thousands of cases awaiting analysis and a review of all major cases since 2015, and sexual assault cases from 2008.

“We do expect that that is about 30,000 cases, but not all of those cases will have turned on DNA evidence,” Ms Fentiman told reporters on Wednesday.

“Not all of those cases will have DNA samples that need to be referred to Forensic Science Queensland.”

Forensic Services CEO Linzi Wilson-Wilde said clearing the backlog will be a challenge.

“Given the circumstances, we do have some backlogs but we are working through those backlogs,” Professor Wilson-Wilde said.

“All priority cases are being conducted within the time frames agreed with the Queensland Police Service, which is a matter of weeks.

“Other cases are being worked through as we as we go through them.”

While clearing the backlog remains a priority, the QFS continued to meet deadlines for ongoing and current cases.

“I can say we are aiming and prioritising to meet our court dates,” she said.

“Where there is a court case, we are endeavouring to meet those dates where we can fold the trials, so ongoing cases shouldn’t be dealt with those that are under investigation.”

Prof Wilson-Wilde said the lab lost five scientists and continued “heavily recruiting”, needing more than 40 qualified scientists as it worked to rebuild its team and quality forensic service.

“It’s exceedingly challenging to find 41 qualified scientists. That is not a possibility,” she admitted.

“However, we can find qualified scientists that we can train up to forensic scientists and that that will take a few months but we can get them on and get them active within our case processes.”

Prof Wilson-Wilde said there had already been significant interest in the positions, with three management positions already filled.

The inquiry, headed by Walter Sofronoff KC, revealed lab managers focused on speed rather than accuracy, to the detriment of quality science, with issues first raised in 2021 stretching back years.