Photo By Tech. Sgt. Nicole Leidholm | Tech Sgt. Ricky Penuelaz, 59th Medical Wing lab technician, uses a pipette to put...... read more read more
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. – The Armed Forces Repository of Specimen Samples of the Identification of Remains inspected Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, on the collection of DNA cards November 8, 2018.
The AFRSSIR is responsible for managing, coordinating and maintaining the collection of DNA blood reference cards for all active duty, reserve, and National Guard service members. This is done when service members first enter the military and is collected at one of nine basic training sites, dependent on their branch of service.
“The DNA cards are used when we receive remains of our fallen that cannot be identified in a more traditional way we will be able to pull that individuals DNA card and positively identify them,” said Brenda Waite, AFRSSIR administrative officer. “This helps families and loved ones get the closer they need and it gets our fallen members home to where they belong.”
In 1992, the AFRSSIR was established to aid in the identification of remains and started with 10,000 collections at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
“These inspections teach personnel at the sites the proper way of storing materials, advising recruits about the cards and allow the lab technicians to know their work is being performed correctly,” said Waite. “If we did not have these sites performing the process properly we would lose the capability of identifying our fallen as quickly and accurately.”
Waite typically performs inspections at each collection site every three to five years, but says if she continually has concerns with a site, she will visit them every six months to a year until corrected.
“I make sure the site has the proper instructions, regulations and Department of Defense Instructions available,” said Waite. “I also make sure they are storing and using the DNA cards, pouches and desiccants properly.”
Waite ensures the recruits have been briefed on the Privacy Act located on the card prior to signing it, makes sure lab personnel are placing enough of the donor’s blood on the cards, that the cards are being placed in the drying racks properly to avoid cross contamination and that the cards are being properly dried prior to shipping.
“I also answer any questions that personnel may have about the process and give suggestions about a process change, if needed, or let them know of a technique I experienced elsewhere at a different site that may work better,” said Waite.
During each inspection, Waite tries to help the service branches better collect samples by providing ways to improve on the process after seeing how other collection sites process the DNA cards.
“If I see that a site has tweaked a process to help them move along quicker and more efficient, I will take that tweak with me and suggest it to other sites that may be struggling in the same area,” said Waite.
To date, more than 7.8 million DNA blood reference cards have been accessioned into the AFRSSIR and approximately 225 thousand new DNA reference cards are collected and accessioned yearly.
“The goal of the DNA cards is to never have an unknown soldier or unknown military member ever again,” said Dr. Tim McMahon, AFMES DoD DNA Operations director. “The cards helped to identify over 800 service members during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom that could not be identified by fingerprint or dental analysis. These are very important cards because they are a direct reference to the unknown service member, and DNA identification is useless without a DNA reference.”
| Date Taken: | 11.16.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.16.2018 13:36 |
| Story ID: | 300286 |
| Location: | DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DELAWARE, US |
| Web Views: | 194 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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