Can you get DNA from ashes? Yes. In rare cases, DNA can be extracted from cremated ashes. But to understand more about DNA testing on cremated remains, you must understand the cremation process.
What happens during the cremation process?
The deceased person’s remains are placed in a cremation chamber, which is then heated to between 1400 and 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. At this extreme temperature, the body’s soft tissues burn, leaving behind the bones. If the process ended at this point, the bone fragments could be sent to a lab for a DNA test.
However, the cremation process continues when the operator pulverizes the bone fragments into a material that looks like a fine powder (or sometimes coarse sand.) So, when you receive your loved one’s ashes, you are not receiving actual ashes. Instead, you are receiving pulverized bones and teeth, which are difficult for extracting DNA.
What happens when I send cremated remains for DNA testing?
Yes, some companies will accept your loved one’s cremation ashes to see if some DNA is viable for analysis. However, before you send a portion of your loved one’s remains to one of these companies, ensure you understand what they can do.
For example, one company’s website states that their DNA test will tell you if there is the presence of DNA in the sample provided. However, the company website warns that the chances of success are low, but the technicians may be able to find some DNA viable for testing that wasn’t destroyed in the retort.
If the company was able to extract DNA from your sample, you may still have to pay an additional fee for “genetic testing.”
For example, one company allows customers to compare the DNA sample found in the cremated remains with another DNA sample provided by a relative. The company could compare the two samples to see if they came from biological relatives.
Make sure you understand the services you’ll receive when you sign up for cremation ash DNA tests. For example, you may have to pay for the testing only to be told that the company could not extract DNA from the materials you provided.
Why would a family want a DNA test on their loved one’s cremated remains?
You may have a personal reason to do DNA testing on human remains. Your funeral home director may be able to help you with this process by providing you with the appropriate genetic material – before the body is placed in the cremation furnace.
However, some family members want to test cremation ashes to confirm that they were given their deceased loved one’s remains.
It’s worth noting that mix-ups in funeral homes and crematoriums are rare. And as you learned, it isn’t easy to find human DNA on organic material that has undergone extreme heat.
Smart Cremation Offers Affordable, Compassionate Cremation Services
The professionals working at Smart Cremation are constantly aware of the solemnity of their service. For this reason, we have specific protocols in place to ensure that the body and cremated remains are labeled throughout each part of the cremation process.
We are happy to discuss our processes with you. Give us a call today to discuss our direct cremation services in California, Arizona, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Florida, and Nevada.
Can You Get DNA From Ashes? Key Takeaways
- While finding DNA preserved in cremation ashes is possible, it’s unlikely.
- Some companies offer services to see if a cremation ash sample would potentially hold DNA.
- Work with a cremation company with specific labeling protocols that they are willing and able to describe to you.
