118 Forensic dentistry
requirements of the laboratory and forces the collection team to focus on the
selection of the best quality material while reducing unnecessary cutting of
the remains.
The corollary to the morgue operation is the Family Assistance Center
and the coordination of the collection of antemortem reference samples that
come from the victim’s personal effects or family references that provide a
DNA profile for comparison purposes. The family members that appear at
the Family Assistance Center are not always the best genetic candidates for
family references. Furthermore, most out-of-town family members may not
linger long after the initial event. For these reasons, as much information
regarding the victim’s genetic tree and the whereabouts of other relatives
must be obtained on the first interview with the next of kin. Given the emo-
tional displacement of family members after a disaster, predesigned forms
that include family tree templates will help distraught relatives place them-
selves and others in the proper genetic relationship. The preferred family
reference donors are listed under the section on salivary DNA.30–32
7.4.5 Transportation and Storage
Once the collection team has verified the accuracy of the chain of custody, the
samples should be transferred to the laboratory as expeditiously as possible.
Individually labeled and sealed 50 ml conical tubes are placed in heavy-duty
clear zip-lock plastic bags. Depending on the size of the bags, three to five
tubes can be placed in a single bag. This second layer of packaging serves
two purposes. First, if leakage occurs from a tube, it limits the potentially
contaminating exposure to a limited number of other samples, and it also
reduces the likelihood that numerous labels will become smudged or illegible.
Second, when working with very large numbers of samples, the plastic bag
simplifies the moving of evidence to and from the laboratory or in and out of
storage. If precoordinated with the laboratory, collection teams can even use
the bags to batch samples according to their priority. Bags of samples are best
transported in a clean commercial-grade cooler. The 16-quart size or larger
allows ample room for bags of ice or reusable ice packs to keep samples cold
during transportation. If samples cannot be transferred to the laboratory
immediately, they should be kept in a cool, dark, dry environment, preferably
at –20°C. Samples may be shipped using a commercial courier, but a courier
rotating directly and only between the morgue and laboratory, maintaining
wireless communication with both sites, and possessing security clearances
at both sites is highly desirable. This arrangement will overcome the business
hour restrictions that hamper some delivery services and also will facilitate
an unbroken chain of custody.30–32