DNAQ can facilitate testing to establish parentage using forensic samples from deceased individuals, in cases where testing may be required post mortem in cases of paternity disputes or estate claims. Testing is conducted using our Legal Chain-Of-Custody Collection Procedures, and the results from testing will be admissible in a court of law.
Prior to commencing testing, you will need to establish whether a sample is available from the deceased party. There are two options for Legal Deceased DNA Testing – DNAQ can either obtain an autopsy sample (generally blood) if one is held by a state facility. If there is no available sample from an autopsy, we recommend checking if a tissue sample from a previous biopsy is held at a pathology laboratory or hospital – we may be able to conduct testing if a previously taken tissue biopsy is accessible.
To determine if a sample is available, you will need to consult with your State’s Coroner’s Office and authority from the Coroner is required for the release of the sample. Authority is typically given to the deceased’s next of kin. Once the State Coroner has given permission for the release of an autopsy sample, we will liaise directly with the laboratory holding the sample to coordinate the collection and transport of the sample to our Brisbane laboratory.
To begin testing we require our application form to be filled and returned to us, along with a certificate or statement for the release of the sample from the State Coroner. Any information regarding the deceased sample and where it is being held will help in ensuring the sample is obtained in a timely manner.
Legally admissible deceased DNA testing is priced from $900, if a blood sample can be provided from a holding facility, such as the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine or Forensic Scientific and Services Queensland.
Once the application form and details regarding the deceased sample are received DNAQ will then liaise directly with the holding facility to obtain the deceased sample via a strict chain of custody collection kit.
If the holding facility has obtained a sample other than blood from the autopsy please read below. Depending on the type of sample it may also need to be transported in a refrigerated environment, this will incur an additional courier cost. Please contact DNAQ for more information.
If there is no sample available from an autopsy, it may be possible to conduct testing using a tissue sample that has been taken from previous medical testing that may have been conducted. You will need to find the holding pathology laboratory and advise DNAQ of their contact details, we will then have our pathologist evaluate whether the sample may be viable for DNA extraction or not.
DNA extraction from a non-standard sample, such as a tissue sample, will incur an additional fee of $300. This amount is not refundable in the event that the sample contains insufficient DNA for further testing is required. DNAQ will advise if DNA has been successfully extracted from the sample, before proceeding with testing of the other parties.
We will need to dispatch a chain of custody kit to the pathology department to send the tissue for testing back to our laboratory for extraction.
Please note depending on the tissue or non-standard sample provided DNAQ may or may not be able to successfully obtain a full DNA profile. Much of this can be avoided if a blood sample is on record, typically held for an extended period of time following autopsy.
For the other party being tested, a sealed DNA kit will be sent to the address specified on the application form. Their collection process will be a standard legal mouth swab. Please click here for more information outlining the collection process.
Results will be mailed to the parties tested, or their next of kin as requested. No results will be given over the phone or faxed. Copies may be emailed if consent is given on the Consent Authority form at time of testing. A copy may also be faxed or emailed to a nominated Lawyer if DNAQ has prior written consent from the tested parties.
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