DNA Testing on Cremated remains

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DNA Testing on Cremated remains

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this process takes around 2 hours

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How it Works

Key Features of DNA Testing on Cremated remains

Our home paternity test is an extremely accurate test and will provide you with up to 99.99% probability of paternity in the case of an inclusion, and 0% in the case of exclusion. All tests are performed using 21 genetic markers to meet international testing standards and guarantee maximum accuracy. The paternity test can be performed with only the samples of the alleged father and the child you do not need to include the sample of the mother although recommended.

Our DNA testing kit will contain all you require to perform the test. We will send you oral swabs to rub on the inside of your mouth in order to collect cheek cells; hence, you will not need to go through painful blood sampling. All our kits contain comprehensive instructions. You can see online how easy it is to collect your DNA Samples.

Collect DNA Sample

Results will be issued within 3 to 5 working days from receipt of your samples at the laboratory. Results for home paternity testing will be sent to you by email unless otherwise requested (additional charges may apply).

Note: We can only guarantee standard result turnaround time when testing takes place solely using oral swab samples. Using a forensic sample for your test may lead to an increase in turnaround time.

We do not offer express testing if you choose to send a forensic sample. We can offer express testing only if you use mouth swabs.

All home paternity tests are performed by an ISO17025 accredited laboratory which has performed over 250,000 DNA tests to date. You can, therefore, rest assured that your test is being performed under the strictest of guidelines.

We do not offer express testing if you choose to send a forensic sample. We can offer express testing only if you use mouth swabs.

EasyDNA can test people living at different addresses or even different countries. Know more about sending DNA testing kits to different locations HERE.

We also provide support at every step of the process. Contact us via email, phone or Live Chat to discuss any questions you may have. Our home paternity test starts from as little as £99 for a two-person test – alleged father and one child. The sample of the mother can be sent as well and will be tested at no added cost. As with some other DNA tests, the sample of the mother, if available, is recommended (see Why test the Mother in a Paternity test?).

It is important to be aware that in the UK the Human Tissue Act regulates the collection and analysis of any human tissue. In order to send a sample for analysis, the person or donor of that sample must give their consent in writing in order for us to test their sample. Furthermore, in order to be fully compliant with the Human Tissue Act, the donor of the sample must also be made aware of how their DNA sample will be used. Failure to comply with the Human Tissue Act is a criminal offence.

We will not proceed with any testing if we do not have consent from all test participants. Testing any samples will be put on hold until we get the required signatures from all individuals.

About This Test

EasyDNA offers DNA testing on cremated remains. Whilst DNA testing is very reliable on remains that have not undergone cremation, the situation with cremated remains is more complex. Our DNA test on cremated remains offers the opportunity to include or exclude the presence of DNA in the ash sample provided.

How to ship cremated remains

Cremated ashes leave no type of organic material behind which means that they present no health hazard whatsoever. You should encounter no issues shipping this type of sample.

The aim of this test is to extract a DNA profile.

For an additional cost, you may choose to compare the profile of the deceased with a profile from another relative to establish if the 2 individuals are biologically related. A match between DNA profiles would indicate or confirm that they are in fact biological relatives.

The samples that can be used from the living relative including mouth swab samples as well as any of the samples listed on our forensic DNA testing page.

How is DNA preserved in cremated remains?

Human bones are mainly composed of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate- these molecules are extremely strong and give bones their characteristic strength and durability. The temperature reached inside the cremation furnace is so high that only bones and teeth are left behind (although even these are altered by the extreme temperature); the rest will be simply ashes which consist of dry calcium phosphates with some minor minerals, such as salts of sodium and potassium. Sulfur and most carbon are lost as gases although a relatively small amount of carbon may remain as carbonate. The actual ashes are thus useless as they will not contain DNA. It is the bones and teeth that could potentially hold some DNA viable for analysis. However, after the cremation, the bones and teeth left behind are turned into a find powder (a process known as pulverization).

Important: The process of pulverization along with the extreme heat the bones are subjected to make extracting DNA a challenge. The chances of successful DNA extraction are low.

Do you always manage to extract DNA?

When it comes to extracting DNA from the bone shards of the deceased that has been cremated, it is important to understand that the chances of success are low. The extreme heat tends to destroy all the DNA in the body although in some cases we may be able to find some DNA that was spared from destruction by the heat in the furnace.

What happens during cremation?

Cremation is a process that normally takes around 2 hours. It does not require embalming, it involves removing all items on the body that the relatives wish to preserve or items that could interfere with the cremation process (such as pacemakers). The body is placed in a cremation casket or an appropriate container that is easily combustible so as to ensure the cremation is thorough. The casket is placed into the cremation chamber, sometimes called a retort. The heating machine, which uses a gas such as propane, is turned on and allowed to reach a temperature of around 1000 °C. After the process is complete, all organs, tissue and fat are entirely destroyed. However, bone fragments and teeth do survive cremation. These are actually pulverized using motorized blades at a later stage. The bones remains are turned into fine powder and it is these remains that form the ashes.

The cremated remains of an adult male will weight around 2500-3000 gramsThe cremated remains of an adult female will weight around 1800- 2000 grams

How do I get a quote for this test?

If you are interested in performing this test and would like a quote, then we recommend that you contact our customer support team and provide us with as much information about the case as possible. This will help us assess the request and guide you accordingly.

Alternative solutions

We offer a number of alternative solutions to confirm the relationship between parties through our range of DNA Relationship Tests. If the DNA of the alleged father is not available for a paternity test then we can also confirm relationships by testing siblings, aunts/uncles and grandparents. The options are varied and will be examined on a case by case basis.

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