Analysis of Remains and Biological Samples

DNA Identity Laboratory Project: DNA Testing of Unidentified Remains.

The University of North Texas Health Science Center is coordinating with medical examiners' offices, coroners' offices, the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the National Center for Missing Adults, and law enforcement agencies to identify, collect, and perform DNA analysis on  unidentified remains and reference samples.

Contact the Center for Human Identification
Phone: 1-800-763-3147
Email: missingpersons@hsc.unt.edu

 See also Missing: Information on the Texas Missing Persons DNA Database (Adobe PDF). This document, published by the DNA Identity Laboratory at the University of North Texas, describes the Texas Missing Persons Database and can be used as a broad guide for States interested in establishing similar programs.

Sample Analysis Through the FBI's National Missing Persons DNA Database Program.

The President's DNA Initiative provides funding to the FBI for the analysis of degraded and old biological samples through the National Missing Persons DNA Database Program. The program was established to identify missing and unidentified persons using the National DNA Index System of the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The Missing Persons Database contains two parts into which missing and unidentified persons DNA profiles and Biological Relatives of Missing Persons and Unidentified Human Remains can be entered.

Samples must be submitted through FBI field offices or resident agencies. Please call the National Missing Persons DNA Database program manager at 703-632-7582 prior to submitting samples or for questions concerning samples. Follow the Evidence Submission directions detailed in the Evidence Examinations and Packaging and Shipping Evidence sections of the Handbook for Forensic Services 2003 (Adobe PDF).

Finding Funding for Sample Analysis

Funding from these programs can be used to facilitate sample analysis: