The game was an unusual setup. You were a police officer. I remember very little.

- There was a flashing segmented bar that occupied the middle of the screen, probably during loading.
- It was an 8 or 16 color game (lots of white and purple)
- One of the clues I remember was running DNA checks on a lipstick sample.
- You never really saw your character that I remember; It seemed like it was more of an interface game where you clicked on the lab, clicked on the clues found, etc. There was no character waking around.
- I'm pretty sure it was on a 3.5" floppy disk. It was definitely PC.

I have searched around FOREVER it seems. This has been the only game I've played that I want to play again and can't even remember the name.

Once I was looking for (almost) same game as you.
What I found was only
Carmen Sandiego Series

Although I am pretty sure that is not what I was looking, but maybe may it's your game ^^

You're probably talking about a 1985 game called <span class="bold">"D&eacute;j&agrave; Vu"</span>, by Mindscape... It was also designed for Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and Mac.

I've attached 4 sceenshots of the DOS version...

Could it be In the Dead of Night?

The only one I remember with lipstick is Police Quest 2 but it doesn't match your other criteria. And it's just a tube not a sample run, hmmm.

If it's Deja Vu, there's also a 1991 version of the game made for Windows 3.1, with improved graphics, as well a more organized windows system. You can have more information <span class="bold">here</span>.

Again, I've attached 4 screenshot of this improved version...

Yeah, you are probably right. I've posted it only because I have a vague memory that there was something with lipsticks there... but I don't even remember if it was about DNA or what...

EDIT: Double post. GOG has trouble right now! ;-)

I don't think it's Police Quest 2, because of the game description in the OP:

Maybe Fascination?

Answers thus far are appreciated, but none hit the nail yet. The game isn't like De'ja vu, which I enjoyed with the original Shadowgate. Thanks for the help so far.

Also not police Quest, nor is it In the Dead of Night. But all pretty good offerings nonetheless.

It was a DOS game with EGA graphics (16 colors), right?

there was also a nes version
and the macintosh version of deja vu is the original

there was also a deja vu II for the apple IIGS that was ported to the gameboy color
as well as the other usual platforms pc amiga atari st wandows

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/icom/icom.htm

my eyes !
the goggles do nothing !