DNA Identification in Mass Fatality Incidents
Chapter 11: Sample Analysis
Although the Nation’s forensic laboratories generally have the policies, systems, and tools to collect, extract, amplify, and analyze many biological samples, most would not be able to handle the number of samples associated with a mass fatality event. This chapter offers an overview of processes involved in the DNA typing of a large number of samples in a relatively short period. See appendix H for a more rudimentary discussion of DNA analysis.
A forensic laboratory’s mass fatality plan should include large-scale collection and extraction procedures, alternate analytical methods for particularly challenging samples, automation for handling high-volume analyses, and quality assessment tools for interpreting results. The plan also should consider work and storage spaces, including sample accessioning and processing areas that have sufficient bench space and biological containment hoods.
Laboratories may plan to use robotics in batch analysis in a mass fatality identification. In the World Trade Center (WTC) identification effort, robotics was essential in handling the quantity of samples. It is important for laboratory directors to note, however, that there is likely to be a steep learning curve with such new procedures. Therefore, advance planning is important.
As was the case after the 9/11 attacks, the environmental conditions to which samples are exposed can compromise the quantity or quality of extractable DNA. Of course, the quality of biological samples will be incident specific, ranging from good quality, high molecular weight to highly degraded. Therefore, DNA-typing methods need to be robust.
