Identification of Remains
It is a two-part process that utilizes a sophisticated computer program for matching physical characteristics. The families of the deceased provide as much information about them as possible: dental records, x-rays, photographs or descriptions of tattoos, clothing and jewelry; blood type information and objects that may contain the deceased's DNA, such as hair or a toothbrush. The information gathered, called antemortem, or "before death" information, is entered into a computer program called VIP (Victim Identification Profile), which is capable of assimilating 800 different item categories, including graphics, photographs and x-rays. As forensic scientists (pathologists, anthropologists, odontologists) examine the recovered remains, they enter their findings - called postmortem data—into VIP (Victim Identification Profile). Depending on the availability of data, the WIN-VIP system enables scientists to match the remains to their identity.
Read more about this topic: Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team
Famous quotes containing the word remains:
“As for work, without it, without painstaking work, any writer or artist definitely remains a dilettante; theres no point in waiting for so-called blissful moments, for inspiration; if it comes, so much the betterbut you keep working anyway.”
—Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev (18181883)