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What to do if…
you are asked to provide a DNA sample to help identify a person who died

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Pause before agreeing. Independently verify the investigating office, then ask what identification purpose the DNA sample will serve, who will collect it, and what consent form or written instructions apply.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t send a swab, consumer DNA kit, identity document, Social Security number, or banking information to an unverified contact.
  • Don’t call back using only a number supplied by the caller. Find the office’s publicly listed main number and verify the request through that route.
  • Don’t self-collect or mail a DNA sample merely because someone asks you to. If NamUs family reference sampling is involved, the NamUs process does not allow a family member to collect or submit their own sample.
  • Don’t substitute a consumer DNA test kit for the requested process unless the verified office clearly explains that it is a separate process.
  • Don’t assume every identification request uses the same database, consent form, or retention rule.
  • Don’t sign a form before you have had a chance to read it and ask questions.

What to do now

  1. Write down the request details. Record the caller’s name, office or agency, callback number, case or reference number, and the name of the person they say is coordinating the identification.

  2. Verify the request independently.

    • For a medical examiner or coroner request, find the office’s publicly listed main number and ask whether the request is genuine.
    • For a law-enforcement request, find the agency’s publicly listed main number and ask to be transferred to the named person or unit.
    • Use the case or reference number when asking the office to confirm the request.

  3. Ask what identification question the sample will help answer.

    • Ask whether the sample is for comparison with unidentified remains, a missing-person case, or another identification process.
    • Ask whether NamUs, NDIS, CODIS, a state system, or a local process is involved.
    • Ask who is responsible for answering your questions about the DNA process.

  4. Ask for the collection and consent details before deciding.

    • Ask what type of sample is requested.
    • Ask who will collect it and where the collection will take place.
    • Ask whether providing the sample is voluntary.
    • Ask where the sample and profile may be stored, who may access them, and what happens after identification.
    • Ask for the applicable consent form and written instructions.

  5. If the verified office says NamUs family reference sampling is involved, do not self-collect the sample. NamUs states that these samples are voluntary, must be collected through the investigating process, and are used only in the search for a missing loved one. NamUs states that family reference profiles are searched against the Unidentified Human Index, not criminal indices. For any other process, ask the verified office to explain the collection route and safeguards that apply.

  6. Ask what happens to the sample and profile later. The NamUs donor-consent form states that the sample will be destroyed and the DNA profile removed from CODIS if the missing family member is positively identified. The FBI notes that family profiles may remain after identification where only partial remains have been recovered, to assist with possible future recoveries. The FBI also states that a family-reference donor may request removal of their profile from NDIS in writing at any time. For any other process, ask the verified office to explain its policy in writing.

  7. Arrange collection only through the verified office’s confirmed process. Ask for the collector’s name, the location or arrangement, and a copy of anything you sign. Take a trusted person with you if that would help you listen and take notes.

  8. Keep one reliable contact. Ask who will update you, how updates are usually given, and who to contact if you have questions later.

What can wait

  • You don’t need to decide during the first call whether to provide the sample if you still need to verify the request or read the consent form.
  • You don’t need to resolve broader funeral, estate, or family decisions during this first conversation.
  • You don’t need to learn every forensic term or database name before asking for a clear explanation.

Important reassurance

A DNA request can be legitimate when an identification is not straightforward. It is reasonable to pause long enough to verify the request, read the consent information, and ask what will happen to your sample.

Scope note

These are first steps for the immediate moment: verifying the request, understanding the proposed collection, and avoiding rushed decisions. Later questions about privacy, retention, or state-specific procedures may need specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, medical, financial, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Procedures may vary by state, agency, and type of investigation. The FBI notes that state DNA databases operate under applicable state law, so ask the verified office which rules and process apply to your situation.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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