OCME Out-Reach Successful

The Medical Examiner's Office contacted Give Your Voice and said that their out-reach was successful. They have received hundreds of phone calls regarding DNA inoformation. The OCME ensured Give Your Voice that all phone calls will be answered.

Message From the Medical Examiner regarding DNA Identification

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York remains committed to doing everything possible for as long as it takes to attempt to identify victims of September 11 terrorist attacks.

We are pleased to announce that we recently had discussions with and received supportive suggestions from representatives of family groups, including: 911 WVFA, GIVE YOUR VOICE, and September’s Mission. These groups will assist us in an outreach program to collect an initial DNA sample or additional samples from the families of victims of the tragic events of September 11th. Obtaining DNA samples from the family members is crucial to the process we use to identify their loved ones.

Unfortunately, in some instances, the personal articles submitted did not produce conclusive DNA profiles, and we now must collect more DNA material. We also need samples from the families that have not yet submitted material for analysis. The OCME has prepared a list of those victims who do not have a usable DNA sample on file, and we have established a DNA hot-line number for families to call. A trained investigator will interview callers and will make an appointment to collect samples. The OCME DNA Hotline number is (212-447-7884), 9 a.m. to 9p.m., seven days a week.

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner and the families’ organizations urge all families previously submitting DNA sampling materials to immediately contact the Medical Examiner’s office by telephone to determine whether the personal articles were useful in conducting analysis. And, all families that have not yet submitted DNA samples are urged to do so at their earliest convenience. For more information, family members may also visit our Web site (TBA).

DNA INFORMATION

From the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
January 22, 2002

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have shocked and saddened the country. The City of New York, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the New York City Police Department recognize the grief and sorrow felt by family and friends of victims. Many families want a final and certain answer that their loved ones were lost in the attack. It is our collective goal to help families by identifying as many victims as possible.

In many cases, DNA testing is the best method to identify victims. To do this, the New York City medical examiner must matched the DNA from the remains found at the World Trade Center site to DNA known to be from a victim or the victim’s relatives. That means we need to collect DNA samples from family members and from the personal items or medical specimens from victims.

Why Go Through The Process Of Identifying Remains?
How Long Will The Process Take?
How Can I Help Identify My Loved One?
What Are The Sources Of DNA Samples That Can Be Used?
What Are The Sources Of DNA From The Victim?
How Can The DNA From Relatives Be Used?
Why Might DNA Analysis Not Work?
How Does DNA Testing Work?
Who Do I Contact For More Information?

Why Go Through The Process Of Identifying Remains?

Some families may find comfort in knowing that the remains of their loved one have been identified and returned. These remains can be interred according to the family’s traditions. This may help with the healing and adjustment to this terrible loss.

For others, the DNA testing process may interfere with their healing. For DNA testing to work, we may need more information, DNA samples, or personal effects. Gathering these may cause you further distress. If DNA testing does not identify your loved one’s remains, it may be a disappointment, adding to your grief. These issues are very personal and may be different for each family.

As you may know, New York City will provide DNA testing to help those families who want it. If you have not already done so, we invite you to take part if you feel it may help. If you choose not to, we will honor that respect.

When an identification is made, next of kin will be notified and asked if they wish to be contacted if more remains are found in the future. If you later change your mind, contact the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and they will honor your decision. If you can’t decide now, take some time to talk about it with others. People who can help include family, friends, religious leaders, and health professionals.

How Long Will The Process Take?

The process of identifying the victims might be quite lengthy. It is possible that not every victim will be identified. To maximize the chance that it will work we need your help.

How Can I Help Identify My Loved One?

Accurate and complete information about the victim (unique characteristics, dental records, etc.) should be submitted to the Missing Person’s Unit of the New York City Police Department. In most cases, this has already been done. Next we will need some DNA samples to make a match to the remains from the World Trade Center site.

What Are The Sources Of DNA Samples That Can Be Used?

DNA tests are now being done on the remains from the World Trade Center site. This DNA can be compared to DNA known to be from the victim and to DNA from the relatives.

What Are The Sources Of DNA From The Victim?

DNA from the victim’s medical specimens or personal effects can be used to make a direct match to remains from the site. Please tell the detectives about specimens that may exist. These are useful because DNA from the victim can be found in these medical specimens. For example, if a loved one recently had surgery or blood work done, a specimen may have been stored at the hospital or clinic. If you think a medical specimen from your loved one might be available, we will help ypu track it down. The table below provides examples of the kinds of medical specimens the laboratory can use.

DNA Sources	Examples	Usefulness
Medical Specimens	Bone Marrow donor sample, Biopsy Sample, Newborn screen bloodspot	Most Useful
Personal Effects	Toothbrush, Hairbrush	Very Useful
Close Relatives	Biological parents of victim, children of victim, Brother of victim, Sister of victim	Useful
Other Relatives	Maternal Aunts, Maternal Uncles, Maternal cousins, Half sisters, Half brothers	Less Useful

DNA from the victim may also be found on their personal effects. The table above gives some examples of these. It is very important that these personal effects were used only by the victim or rarely used by anyone else. For example, a hairbrush used by the whole family would not be a good source of DNA from the victim. A toothbrush, or other items containing saliva are often good sources.

How Can The DNA From Relatives Be Used?

If personal effects or medical specimens are not available, DNA testing can be done on family members. The only relatives that can be used are blood relatives. This excludes adoptive parents, adopted children, stepparents, or other non-blood relatives.

The ability to match a victim to their relatives depends on how closely related they are to the victim. The most useful DNA samples are from close blood relatives such as the victim’s biological mother, father, children, brothers or sisters. This is because DNA of close relatives is more similar than the DNA of other relatives. The pictures shoe the relatives who are most useful for identifying victims. If DNA from the victim’s children is used, it is helpful to have DNA from the children’s other biological parent.

DNA from other relatives can be used, but this is more difficult to do. In some cases, we will ask for samples from specific relatives. For example, in some cases the laboratory may request DNA from a maternal relative of the victim such as the victim’s aunt, uncle, half-brothers, or half-sisters on the mother’s side.

Why Might DNA Analysis Not Work?

DNA testing might not be able to identify your loved one. The most likely reason would be that there is no usable DNA in the remains recovered from the World Trade Center site. Because of the extreme conditions at the site, some victim’s remains may not be found. Also, DNA testing may not work if no usable DNA is found on personal effects, if medical specimens are not available, or if there are not enough relatives available for testing.

How Does DNA Testing Work?

DNA is the hereditary material that contains instructions to build a human being. DNA can be collected from very small amounts of blood, cheek brushing, hair roots, or other samples. There are two kinds of DNA in the body: NUCLEAR DNA and MITOCHONDRIAL DNA. Both kinds of DNA can be used for DNA identification. Children inherit NUCLEAR DNA from their mother and father. Children inherit MITOCHONDRIAL DNA only from their mother.

NUCLEAR DNA come from the nucleus and is inherited from both parents, half from the mother and half from the father. Each person’s NUCLEAR DNA is unique, except for identical twins. When NUCLEAR DNA from the victim’s remains matches the NUCLEAR DNA from a sample known to have come from the victim, we can be very sure it is a correct match. Because of the way it is inherited, DNA from the blood relatives is similar. The medical examiner can compare NUCLEAR DNA from the victim remains to NUCLEAR DNA from family members and make a match. There are some disadvantages to using NUCLEAR DNA. NUCLEAR DNA can be easily damaged by extreme heat and other conditions. If the Nuclear DNA is very damaged, it cannot be used for DNA testing.

The second kind of DNA is called MITOCHODRIAL DNA. It is inherited only from the mother. Fathers never pass MITOCHONDRIAL DNA on to their children. However, MITOCHONDRIAL DNA is not always unique. This means that two unrelated people might have the same MITOCHONDRIAL DNA. Because of the way it is inherited, only maternal relatives can be used for MITOCHONDRIAL DNA testing. MITOCHONDRIAL DNA is often easier to test on very small or damaged DNA samples. For these reasons, testing MITOCHONDRIAL DNA can be very helpful for identification.

We will try to test both NUCLEAR and MITOCHONDRIAL DNA on every sample. Because of the extreme conditions at the site, some samples may be severely damaged and the testing will not be successful. You should know that the New York City Medical Examiner, together with the New York State Police, will do their best to identify all remains and notify all of the families who wish to pursue this testing.

If you would like more information on DNA and DNA testing, please visit:
www.nhgri.nih.gov/education kit

Who Do I Contact For More Information?

Please contact the Police Department or the Office of the Chief Medial Examiner in New York City if you have questions. Be assured that we will do our best to address your needs and questions.

Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
DNA Information Hotline
212-447-7884, 9 a.m. to 9p.m., seven days a week

New York City Police Department
Missing Person Hotline: (646) 710-6245

Mayor’s Website:
www.nyc.gov