DNA analysis is the gold standard for identification of human remains from mass disasters. Particularly in the absence of traditional anthropological and other physical characteristics, forensic DNA typing allows for identification of any biological sample and the association of body parts, as long as sufficient DNA can be recovered from the samples. This is true even when the victim's remains are fragmented and the DNA is degraded.
After a mass fatality event, it is the job of the medical examiner to identify the victims so that death certificates can be issued. When DNA analysis is part of the identification process, the laboratory must ensure that:
While many effective laboratory protocols are available for DNA analysis, the analytical portion is only one part of the identification process. Special attention is required for:
Developing strategies that address these features of DNA identification will facilitate the identification process.
See a detailed discussion of all of these issues in Lessons Learned From 9/11: DNA Identification in Mass Fatality Incident.
An extensive overview of forensic identification beyond DNA analysis can be found in Mass Fatality Incidents: A Guide for Human Forensic Identification, U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, June 2005.