The Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) is a forensics laboratory specializing in DNA profiling run by the

United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is ...

and located at the

Dover Air Force Base Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a United States Air Force base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command (AMC), located southeast of the city of Dover, Delaware. 436th AW is the host wing and runs the busiest and largest a ...

, Delaware. It is part of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System. AFDIL stores refrigerated DNA samples from all current active duty and reserve personnel. However, almost all casualty identifications are effected using

fingerprint A fingerprint is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. The recovery of partial fingerprints from a crime scene is an important method of forensic science. Moisture and grease on a finger result in fingerprints on surfac ...

s from military ID card records ( live scan fingerprints are recorded at the time such cards are issued). When friction ridge skin is not available from deceased military personnel, DNA and dental records are used to confirm identity.

External links

www.afmes.mil
*Department of Defense DNA Operation

Laboratories in the United States Forensics organizations Military medicine in the United States {{US-mil-stub