CODIS is the acronym for the Combined DNA Index System. It's the generic term used to describe the FBI’s program of support for criminal justice DNA databases, as well as the software used to run these databases. The National DNA Index System (NDIS) is the national-level component of CODIS. NDIS contains DNA profiles contributed by participating federal, state, and local forensic laboratories. 

To understand how DNA databases work, you can use the example of a sexual assault. In the case of such an assault where an evidence kit is collected from the victim, a DNA profile of the suspected perpetrator is developed from the swabs in the kit. The forensic unknown profile attributed to the suspected perpetrator is searched against the state database of convicted offender and arrestee profiles (contained within the Convicted Offender and Arrestee Indices, if that state is authorized to collect and database DNA samples from arrestees). If there is a candidate match in the Convicted Offender or Arrestee Index, the laboratory follows procedures to confirm the match and, if confirmed, will obtain the identity of the suspected perpetrator. The DNA profile from the evidence is also searched against the state’s database of crime scene DNA profiles called the Forensic Index. If there is a candidate match in the Forensic Index, the laboratory follows their confirmation procedures and, if confirmed, the match will have linked two or more crimes together. The law enforcement agencies involved in these cases are then able to share the information obtained on each of the cases and possibly develop additional leads.

CODIS was designed to compare a target DNA record against the DNA records contained in the database. Once a match is identified by the CODIS software, the laboratories involved in the match exchange information to verify the match and establish coordination between their two agencies. The match of the forensic DNA record against the DNA record in the database may be used to establish probable cause to obtain an evidentiary DNA sample from the suspect. The law enforcement agency can use this documentation to obtain a court order authorizing the collection of a known biological reference sample from the offender. The casework laboratory can then perform a DNA analysis on the known biological sample so that this analysis can be presented as evidence in court. 

The procedure used for counting hits is intended to give credit to those laboratories involved in analyzing and entering the relevant DNA records into CODIS. The system’s hits are tracked as either an offender hit (where the identity of a potential suspect is generated) or as a forensic hit (where the DNA profiles obtained from two or more crime scenes are linked but the source of these profiles remains unknown). These hits are counted at the state and national levels. CODIS was developed to assist in providing investigative leads for law enforcement in cases where no suspect has yet been identified; therefore a CODIS hit provides new investigative information on these cases. The hits are reported as “Investigations Aided,” thus enabling the FBI to measure the effectiveness of both the CODIS software and National DNA Index System; see NDIS statistics by state for more information. 

As discussed above, CODIS was designed to assist law enforcement by providing potential investigative information in those cases in which crime scene evidence has yielded a DNA profile but no suspect has been identified. Once the hit information is provided to law enforcement, the laboratory is not typically notified as to the resolution of the investigation-aided case.  Consequently, laboratories participating in the National DNA Index System are only required to report investigations aided and not convictions to the FBI. 

A law enforcement agency sends the crime scene evidence to the forensic DNA laboratory for analysis and production of a DNA record. At the time of the hit, there may not be an open or active investigation or other judicial proceeding and, therefore, the submitting law enforcement agency becomes the laboratory’s point of contact for hit notification. 

The DNA profile, also known as a DNA type, is stored in the database. For forensic STR DNA analysis, the DNA profile consists of one or two alleles at the 20 CODIS Core Loci. 

Generally, no names or other personal identifiers of the offenders, arrestees, or detainees are stored using the CODIS software (for missing persons records stored at NDIS, available metadata, such as the date of birth, may be included.) Only the following information is stored and can be searched at the national level: 
  
The DNA profile—the set of identification characteristics or numerical representation at each of the various loci analyzed; 

• The Agency Identifier of the agency submitting the DNA profile;

• The Specimen Identification Number—generally a number assigned sequentially at the time of sample collection. This number does not correspond to the individual’s social security number, criminal history identifier, or correctional facility identifier; and

• The DNA laboratory personnel associated with a DNA profile analysis.

The computer terminals/servers containing the CODIS software are located in physically secure space. Access to these computers is limited to only those individuals approved by the FBI and authorized to use CODIS. Communications between participating federal, state, and local laboratories occur over a wide area network accessible to only criminal justice agencies approved by the FBI. 
  
Pursuant to federal law (the DNA Identification Act of 1994), DNA data is confidential. Access is generally restricted to criminal justice agencies for law enforcement identification purposes. Defendants are also permitted access to the samples and analyses performed in connection with their cases. If all personally identifiable information is removed, DNA profile information may be accessed by criminal justice agencies for a population statistics database, for identification research and protocol development purposes, or for quality control purposes. The unauthorized disclosure of DNA data in the National DNA Index is subject to a criminal penalty not to exceed $250,000. 

NDIS is the acronym for the “National DNA Index System” and is one part of CODIS—the national level—containing the DNA profiles contributed by federal, state, and local participating forensic laboratories. NDIS was implemented in October 1998. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, the federal government, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory, and Puerto Rico participate in NDIS. 
  
The Federal DNA Identification Act of 1994 (“DNA Act”; 34 U.S.C. §12592) authorized the establishment of this National DNA Index. The DNA Act specifies the categories of data that may be maintained in NDIS (convicted offenders, arrestees, legal, detainees, forensic [casework], unidentified human remains, missing persons, and relatives of missing persons) as well as requirements for participating laboratories relating to quality assurance, privacy, and expungement. 

The DNA Act (34 U.S.C. §12592(b)) specifies the requirements for participation in the National DNA Index System (NDIS) and the DNA data that may be maintained at NDIS (convicted offender, arrestees, legal, detainees, forensic [casework], unidentified human remains, missing persons, and relatives of missing persons). The DNA Identification Act requires the following: 

• That the laboratories participating in the National DNA Index comply with the Quality Assurance Standards issued by the FBI Director; 

• That the laboratories submitting the DNA records are accredited by a nonprofit professional association of persons actively engaged in forensic science that is nationally recognized within the forensic science community;

• That the laboratories submitting the DNA records undergo an external audit every two years to demonstrate compliance with the FBI Director’s Quality Assurance Standards;

• That the laboratories are federal, state, or local criminal justice agencies (“or the Secretary of Defense in accordance with section 1565 of title 10, United States Code”); and

• That access to the DNA samples and records is limited in accordance with federal law.

States seeking to participate in NDIS sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the FBI Laboratory documenting their agreement to abide by the DNA Act requirements as well as record-keeping and other operational procedures governing the uploading of DNA data, expungements, CODIS users, audits, etc. 

Federal law requires that laboratories submitting DNA data to NDIS are accredited by a nonprofit professional association of persons actively engaged in forensic science that is nationally recognized within the forensic science community. The following entities have been determined to satisfy this definition: the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), and the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board.  

The DNA Act, (34 U.S.C. §12592(b)(3)), specifies the access requirements for the DNA samples and records “maintained by federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies (or the Secretary of Defense in accordance with section 1565 of title 10, United States Code),” and “allows disclosure of stored DNA samples and DNA analyses only: 

1. to criminal justice agencies for law enforcement identification purposes; 
2. in judicial proceedings, if otherwise admissible pursuant to applicable statutes or rules; 
3. for criminal defense purposes, to a defendant, who shall have access to samples and analyses performed in connection with the case in which such defendant is charged; or
4. if personally identifiable information is removed, for a population statistics database, for identification research and protocol development purposes, or for quality control purposes.”

If a state has signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the FBI to participate in NDIS, that state has agreed to comply with the Federal DNA Identification Act, including the limited access requirements. To the extent that these access and disclosure provisions of the DNA Act conflict with a state’s DNA database law, the state has agreed to the provisions of the DNA Act superseding the state law for purposes of NDIS participation. That is, if a state DNA database law permits access to the DNA samples and analyses in the state DNA database for purposes not contained in the DNA Act (i.e., humanitarian purposes), and that state is participating in NDIS, then the state has agreed to comply with the more restrictive federal access provisions. 

Under the DNA Act, the defendant may have access to the samples and analyses performed in connection with his or her case for criminal defense purposes (34 U.S.C. §12592(b)(3)(C)). This provision permits access to the results of any analyses of samples taken from the defendant and any analyses developed from the crime scene evidence in the case for which the defendant is charged. This provision does not authorize access for the defendant to samples and analyses that were not developed in connection with his or her case (such as other offenders’ DNA profiles). Nor does this provision in the DNA Act authorize access for the defendant to all of the DNA records in the National DNA Index System. 

Under the Federal DNA Identification Act, access to the National DNA Index System (NDIS) “is subject to cancellation if the quality control and privacy requirements described in subsection (b) are not met” (34 U.S.C .§12592(c)). This means that if an NDIS participating laboratory or state does not comply with the FBI Director’s Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing or DNA Databasing Laboratories and/or the limited access provisions of the DNA Act, that laboratory or state may lose its ability to search, store, and maintain its DNA records in NDIS. 

Currently, DNA data generated through PCR Short Tandem Repeat (STR) technology, Y chromosome STR (Y STR) technology, and Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) technology are accepted at NDIS. 
  
Y STR and mtDNA data are only searched with the missing person-related indexes. 

Yes. There are several requirements for the DNA data submitted to NDIS: The DNA data must be generated in accordance with the FBI Director’s Quality Assurance Standards; 

• The DNA data must be generated by a laboratory that is accredited by an approved accrediting agency;

• The DNA data must be generated by a laboratory that undergoes an external audit every two years to demonstrate compliance with the FBI Director’s Quality Assurance Standards;

• The DNA data must be one of the categories of data acceptable at NDIS, such as convicted offender, arrestee, detainee, legal, forensic (casework), unidentified human remains, missing person, or a relative of missing person;

• The DNA data must meet minimum CODIS Core Loci requirements for the specimen category;

• The DNA PCR data must be generated using PCR accepted kits; and

• Participating laboratories must have and follow expungement procedures in accordance with federal law. 

Effective January 1, 2017, the CODIS Core Loci include the following 20 loci: 

Because they were selected as law enforcement markers to be used for identification purposes only, the CODIS loci were specifically chosen because:

1. None are located within a gene or protein coding region;
2. They are located in regions commonly referred to as “junk DNA”; and
3. They have been studied and found to not be causative or indicative of any medical condition or disease status that could compromise an individual’s medical privacy. 

Additionally, it is important to note that any reported correlation between a CODIS marker and a coding gene for a specific medical condition or disease does not necessarily mean that the CODIS marker is now linked or predictive of that medical condition without supporting studies that establish a functional role of the CODIS STR loci or variant in disease causation. 

To date, the CODIS STR loci continue to be studied for their predictive value and no CODIS locus or forensic STR variant has been demonstrated to directly cause or predict disease (external link).  Additionally, professional groups such as the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) continue to investigate and publish on this topic as appropriate such as its Open SWGDAM Letter Regarding the Claims Raised in State v. Abernathy that the CODIS Core Loci are Associated with MedicalConditions/Disease States. 

The minimum CODIS Core Loci required for submission of DNA data to NDIS vary by specimen category. Generally, all CODIS Core Loci are required for submission of convicted offender, arrestee, detainee, and legal profiles. All CODIS Core Loci and Amelogenin are required for relatives of missing person profiles. 
  
All CODIS Core Loci must be attempted for other specimen categories with the following limited exceptions: 

• For forensic DNA profiles, all CODIS Core Loci must be attempted but at least 8 of the original CODIS Core Loci combined with a match rarity of at least one in ten million are required for submission to and searching at NDIS. 

• For Missing Person and Unidentified Human Remains, all CODIS Core Loci must be attempted. 

Hypervariable region I (“HV1”; positions 16024-16365) and hypervariable region II (“HV2”; positions 73-340) are required for the submission of mtDNA data to NDIS. 

Forensic (casework) DNA samples are considered crime scene evidence. To be classified as a forensic unknown record, the DNA sample must be attributed to the putative perpetrator. Items taken directly from the suspect are considered deduced suspect samples, not forensic unknowns, and thus are not eligible for upload to NDIS. 

For missing person, relatives of missing person, and unidentified human (remains) samples, additional DNA technologies (such as mtDNA, Y STR) should always be considered, as appropriate. For purposes of this discussion, “as appropriate” means if relevant. For example, if the missing person is a female, then Y STR technology would not be relevant. The lack of an additional technology will not render a sample ineligible for entry into CODIS but use of an additional appropriate technology will ensure the most robust search possible. 

Additionally, creation of a Pedigree Tree for the missing persons-related DNA record is strongly encouraged. A Pedigree Tree is a graphical representation of the relationship of the missing person with two or more relatives. The more robust Pedigree Trees have at least one relative that is a biological mother, biological father, or biological child of the missing person. 

Laboratories participating in the National DNA Index are required to expunge qualifying profiles from the National Index under the following circumstances: 

• For convicted offenders, if the participating laboratory receives a certified copy of a final court order documenting the conviction has been overturned; and 

• For arrestees, if the participating laboratory receives a certified copy of a final court order documenting the charge has been dismissed, resulted in an acquittal, or if no charges have been brought within the applicable time period. 

Currently, the Forensic Unknown Index is searched against the Offender Indices at high stringency with one mismatch. High stringency is defined as a search that requires all alleles to match between the two DNA profiles. 
  
DNA profiles obtained from crime scene evidence may also be partially degraded and/or contain DNA from more than one individual and as a result, may contain fewer than the required CODIS Core Loci. These DNA profiles are maintained in the Forensic Partial and Forensic Mixture Indices, respectively. The Forensic Partial and Forensic Mixture Indices are searched against the Offender Indices at moderate stringency—a search that requires all alleles to match, but the two DNA profiles can contain a different number of alleles. 
 
These high and moderate stringency searches are designed to accommodate the fact that different typing kits may be used in generating the DNA profile, the DNA sample from the crime scene evidence may be degraded, or multiple individuals may be represented in the sample. They assist in facilitating the identification of high-quality candidate matches between the crime scene and offender DNA profiles. 

Occasionally a partial match between a forensic profile and an offender profile is observed during a routine NDIS database search. The FBI defines a partial match as a moderate stringency candidate match between two single source profiles having at each locus all of the alleles of one sample represented in the other sample (see illustration below). A “partial match” is not an exact match of the two profiles. When evaluating whether a candidate match is viable and should be processed through to confirmation, a forensic scientist may discover that the candidate offender profile is, in fact, excluded as the possible source of the profile obtained from crime scene evidence. Because of a similarity in alleles between the forensic unknown and the candidate offender profile, the scientist may conclude that a close biological relative of the offender may be the source of the forensic unknown. 
  
The following illustrates a hypothetical partial match as seen in the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM)

• Recommendations to the FBI Director on the “Interim Plan for the Release of Information in the Event of a ‘Partial Match’ at NDIS” and correction
    

Since a partial match is not an exact profile match to an offender profile and therefore cannot be subject to NDIS-defined confirmation procedures, the FBI has authorized procedures for the release of partial match information. NDIS laboratories that identify a partial match resulting from an NDIS search and wish to identify the offender profile should refer to Appendix G of the NDIS Operational Procedures Manual and contact the FBI’s CODIS Unit for further information. 

At the FBI’s request, the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) reviewed the scientific issues relating to partial matches and developed recommendations to assist in the evaluation of this information.

• Those recommendations are available in Forensic Science Communications and correction
   

As explained in SWGDAM’s Recommendations “Moderate stringency CODIS matches, in general, have very low efficiency in locating true relatives in offender databases. There is little useful probative value in the majority of partial matches using the current CODIS searching rules and algorithms. There are two main reasons for this: (1) true siblings will very rarely share alleles at all CODIS core loci; (2) as offender DNA databases get large, the number of unrelated people that do share at least one allele at all loci increases very rapidly. The original intent for allowing moderate stringency CODIS searches was the realization and acknowledgment that crime scene profiles often may be partially degraded and/or contain DNA from more than one contributor. Additionally, different primer sets may have been used between profiles. Allowing the detection of partial matches can help accommodate these two scenarios and allow the ultimate detection of full, high-stringency matches that might otherwise not have been found.”   

• SWGDAM’s complete list of recommendations and correction 
   

No. A partial match, as indicated above, is the spontaneous product of a routine database search where a candidate offender profile is not identical to the forensic profile but because of a similarity in the number of alleles shared between the forensic profile and the candidate profile, the offender may be a close biological relative of the source of the forensic profile. Familial searching is an intentional or deliberate search of the database conducted after a routine search for the purpose of potentially identifying close biological relatives of the unknown forensic sample associated with the crime scene profile. 

No. Conducting a moderate stringency search is an effective means of searching forensic profiles from crime scene evidence that contains DNA from more than one individual (a forensic mixture), forensic DNA that is partially degraded, or to accommodate the use of different DNA typing kits by different laboratories. This should not be confused with attempting to search for similar, but not matching, profiles already stored within the National DNA Index System, a type of database searching the FBI does not conduct.

No, familial searching is not currently performed at NDIS. See Federal Register Vol. 73, No. 238 (December 10, 2008 at page 74937). 

No, familial searching is not conducted at the federal level. However, states considering familial searching can review the following discussion points:

• Familial searching is an additional search of a law enforcement DNA database conducted after a routine search has been completed and no  matches are identified during the process. Unlike a routine database search, which may spontaneously yield partial match profiles, familial searching is a deliberate search of a DNA database conducted for the intended purpose of potentially identifying close biological relatives to the unknown forensic profile obtained from crime scene evidence. Familial searching is based on the concept that first-order relatives, such as siblings or parent/child relationships, will have more genetic data in common than unrelated individuals. Practically speaking, familial searching would only be performed if the comparison of the forensic DNA profile with the known offender/arrestee DNA profiles has not identified any matches to any of the offenders/arrestees.

• Familial searching is often confused with what occurs when a partial match results from the routine search of the DNA database. A partial match is the spontaneous product of a regular database search where a candidate offender profile is identified as not being identical to the forensic profile but, because of a similarity in the number of alleles shared between the two profiles, the offender may be a close biological relative of the source of the forensic profile. 

• While familial searching is now being performed in several jurisdictions in the United States, the United Kingdom has the most experience conducting familial searching of their National DNA Database. From 2003 to 2011, the UK conducted approximately 200 familial searches resulting in investigative information used to help solve approximately 40 serious crimes. The UK has developed detailed protocols for familial searches that include an approval process, considerations for prioritization, research of family history, and training of law enforcement officers. One of the key components responsible for the effectiveness of the UK’s system is that the search is not based upon genetics alone. Age and, more importantly, geographic location are combined with the genetic data to produce a ranked list of potential relatives of the unknown forensic profile. 

• It is important to recognize that a relative must already be in the database in order for the search to identify them as a potential relative of the forensic profile. And even if a relative is in the database, it is possible that the relative may not be included in the ranked list produced by the familial search. For example, California’s validation of their familial searching protocol showed that approximately 93% of fathers and 61% of full siblings were identified by their familial search procedure using the CODIS 13 core loci in searching a database of approximately one million DNA profiles (96% of fathers and 72% of full siblings were identified using 15 loci). However, regardless of whether or not a relative is in the database, a familial search will always generate a ranked list of potential candidates for evaluation. 

• Familial searching is not currently conducted at the national level or performed by the National DNA Index System [see Federal Register Vol. 73, No. 238 (December 10, 2008, at page 74937)]. To evaluate the feasibility of familial searching at the national level, the FBI’s CODIS Unit sought input from the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) on specific questions relating to the efficiency of kinship matching compared to counting shared alleles, false positives and optimal database size, and optimal number of ranked candidates for the 10 million DNA profile database. SWGDAM provided the CODIS Unit with the following recommendations: (1) the use of kinship LRs is the preferred method for familial searching; (2) ranked lists should be reviewed since the true relative is not always ranked as the #1 candidate, and additional filters should be used to reduce the number of false positives; and, (3) since it is difficult to establish a threshold ranking for review of a ranked list when searching a database of over 10 million records when additional filters of metadata, geography, and Y-STR testing may not be available, routine familial searching at the national level is not recommended at this time. 

• While familial searching is not performed at the national level, the following states currently perform familial searching at the state level: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. (see: Massachusetts Forensic Science Oversight Board, Report on S. 2480, “An Act Permitting Familial Searching and Partial DNA Matches in Investigating Certain Crimes” and Related Recommendations Pertaining to G.L.c.22E Governing the Massachusetts Statewide DNA Database, March 24, 202). Familial searching can help solve certain cases when applied properly. The “Recommendations from the SWGDAM Ad Hoc Working Group on Familial Searching” provides additional information on this topic, including an appendix on their familial searching studies.

• It is important to note that familial searching differs from forensic genetic genealogy (also known as genealogical/ancestry searching, long-range familial searching, and investigative genetic genealogy, among other terms). Forensic genetic genealogy is conducted on non-law enforcement DNA databases and uses different markers than the 20 CODIS law enforcement offender database markers. This type of searching is most commonly used by individuals who voluntarily submit their DNA data to third-party companies in an attempt to find relatives or develop family trees. In some cases, law enforcement agencies are using forensic genetic genealogy to find the perpetrators of violent crimes by trying to identify their relatives; this type of searching led to the positive identification of California's Golden State Killer in 2018.

Each jurisdiction must determine whether or not they are authorized to perform familial searching, and if so, the criteria and procedures governing their use of this searching process. The FBI does not regulate this type of search at the state level.  

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming may currently perform familial searching. (see: Massachusetts Forensic Science Oversight Board, Report on S. 2480, “An Act Permitting Familial Searching and Partial DNA Matches in Investigating Certain Crimes” and Related Recommendations Pertaining to G.L.c.22E Governing the Massachusetts Statewide DNA Database, March 24, 2021.).  

Two jurisdictions, Maryland (Public Safety Code § 2-506) and the District of Columbia (D.C. Code § 22-4151), have passed laws specifically prohibiting familial searching.

Additional information about familial searching can be found in Question 34.

An Expert System is a software program or set of software programs that interprets the data generated from a DNA analysis instrument (or platform) in accordance with laboratory-defined quality assurance rules and accurately identifies the data that does and does not satisfy such rules. Portions of the technical review required by the FBI Director’s Quality Assurance Standards may be accomplished by an NDIS-approved and internally-validated Expert System. 

The following Expert Systems are approved for use on offender samples and known reference samples at NDIS. There are currently no Expert Systems approved for use on casework (forensic unknown) samples.

NDIS-Approved Expert Systems:

• GeneMapper®ID 

• GeneMapper®ID-X 

• GeneMarker® HID 

• i-Cubed™ 

• OSIRIS 

• TrueAllele™ 

If you have a question concerning a specific Expert System, please contact the FBI’s CODIS Unit. 

The following PCR kits are accepted for use at NDIS and contain the 20 CODIS Core Loci required effective January 1, 2017 (listed by manufacturer): 

• Ande FlexPlex27 (A0210001057) 

• Life Technologies (AB) GlobalFiler™Express (Part Numbers 4474665 & 4476609) 

• Life Technologies (AB) GlobalFiler™ (Part Number 4476135) 

• Promega PowerPlex® Fusion (Catalog numbers DC 2402/2408) 

• Promega PowerPlex® Fusion 6C (Catalog numbers DC 2705/2720) 

• QIAGEN Investigator 24plex QS (Catalog numbers 382415/382417) 

• QIAGEN Investigator 24plex GO! (Catalog numbers 382426/382428) 

• Thermo Fisher Scientific VeriFiler Express™ (Catalog Numbers A32014, A32070, A33032) 

• Thermo Fisher Scientific VeriFiler Plus™ (Catalog Number A35495) 

• Verogen ForenSeq™ DNA Signature Prep Kit (TG-450-1001/TG-450-1002) (see NDIS Procedures for additional information) 

A complete listing of accepted PCR STR kits can be found in Appendix E of the NDIS Operational Procedures Manual. If you have a question concerning a specific PCR kit, please contact the FBI’s CODIS Unit. 

Laboratories that participate in the National DNA Index and who have validated the kits, loci, or Expert Systems in their facilities may request that the FBI approve the kits, loci, or Expert Systems. The validation data and other supporting documentation must accompany the request.  Additional information on the approval process for PCR kits and loci can be found in Appendix F of the NDIS Operational Procedures Manual and for Expert Systems, in Sections 4.5.2 and 4.5.3 of the NDIS Operational Procedures Manual. 

Requests for a search of an international DNA database should be directed to your state CODIS administrator. The state administrator will forward the request to their state liaison Interpol contact. Those requesting an international search must use the Interpol DNA Profile Search Request Form. 

An international law enforcement agency may submit a request for a search of the National DNA Index either through the FBI’s legal attaché responsible for that jurisdiction or through Interpol. Requests for such a search will be reviewed by the NDIS Custodian to ensure compliance with the Federal DNA Identification Act (criminal justice agency status, authorized specimen category, and participation in quality assurance program) as well as the inclusion of a sufficient number of CODIS Core Loci for effective searching. 

Requirements for the outsourcing of DNA samples are contained in Standard 17 of the Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing  and DNA Databasing Laboratories. For law enforcement agencies seeking to outsource offender and/or casework samples, the technical specifications of the outsourcing agreement must have the prior approval of the technical leader of the NDIS participating laboratory that will be entering that DNA data into CODIS. At a minimum, the outsourced laboratory must follow the FBI’s Quality Assurance Standards and be accredited. 

Standard 17 of the Quality Assurance Standards also requires the completion of an on-site visit of the vendor laboratory prior to the beginning of the outsourced analyses and a technical review of the outsourced DNA records by the NDIS participating laboratory. Please refer to the FBI’s Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing  and DNA Databasing Laboratories for additional information. 

Compliance with the Quality Assurance Standards (QAS) issued by the FBI Director is required by federal law in order for a laboratory to participate in and contribute DNA records to the National DNA Index System. 

The QAS describe the minimum standards for a laboratory’s quality program if performing forensic DNA analysis and/or databasing. The minimum standards cover the following areas: organization, personnel, facilities, evidence or sample control, validation, analytical procedures, equipment calibration and maintenance, reports, review, proficiency testing, corrective action, audits, safety, and outsourcing.  

The approved accrediting agencies use the FBI’s Quality Assurance Standards when performing audits of forensic DNA and DNA databasing laboratories. 

The Quality Assurance Standards were revised in 2020 and the revisions were effective July 1, 2020. The QAS Guidance document was revised and took effect January 1, 2023. Links to the Quality Assurance Standards, Audit Documents and QAS Guidance Document can be found on the CODIS law enforcement page.

The DNA from close relatives can help in establishing a DNA profile for the missing person. DNA is passed from parents to their children so the most beneficial samples for this purpose are those from a biological mother, father, brothers, sisters, or children. In situations where samples from children of a missing parent are collected, the spouse or parent in common should also be considered for collection in order to determine what portion of the child’s DNA is in common with the missing parent. The DNA samples collected from relatives are sent to an accredited forensic laboratory for DNA testing. The DNA profiles obtained from the relatives’ samples are submitted to the FBI’s National DNA Index System (NDIS), also referred to as the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), solely for the comparison to DNA profiles obtained from unidentified persons or remains. 

Relatives of a missing person may voluntarily provide DNA samples. These samples are known as Family Reference Samples. Law enforcement agencies, involved in an active missing person case (case in which a missing person report has been filed), are encouraged to collect Family Reference Samples from two or more close biological relatives of the missing person and to obtain a consent form signed by the contributing relative to document that the DNA samples were given voluntarily. 

In instances where there is limited genetic information available for database searching and a law enforcement agency investigating a case believes that a particular set of remains may be those of a specific missing person, a request for a manual comparison may be warranted.

Relatives of a missing person must be willing to provide a DNA sample and sign a consent form in the presence of law enforcement. In accordance with federal law (34 U.S.C. § 12592(a)(4)), only DNA samples collected voluntarily from relatives of a missing person are eligible for searching in NDIS. The DNA profiles from relatives of missing persons will be used only for identifying a missing person or remains.  

Law enforcement personnel must witness the voluntary collection of the Family Reference Samples and a consent and information form must be completed and signed by the person providing the DNA sample. The identity of the contributor providing the DNA sample must be verified by law enforcement (e.g., through presentation of an appropriate government-issued identification card). Family Reference Samples which are not submitted by law enforcement and with the appropriate documentation will not be accepted for entry into NDIS. 

The Federal DNA Identification Act (34 U.S.C. §12592) authorized the FBI to include within the national DNA identification database the DNA profiles developed from DNA samples voluntarily contributed by relatives of missing persons. The consent form documents that the DNA sample was voluntarily contributed and provides permission for inclusion in CODIS for the sole purpose of identifying a missing person or recovered remains. It also indicates where, by whom, and how the Family Reference Sample was collected. Additional information related to the missing person such as metadata is collected on the form to assist with resolving possible associations between relatives and unidentified persons. 

In accordance with the DNA Identification Act (34 U.S.C. §12592 (b)(3)(A)), the DNA information will be released only to criminal justice agencies for identification purposes and for comparison to DNA profiles related to the disappearance of individuals indexed in the missing persons database. The DNA profiles obtained from the Family Reference Samples will only be searched against the DNA profiles from unidentified persons stored at NDIS.

The DNA records of relatives of a missing person will remain in NDIS and be searched against missing persons and unidentified human remains profiles until one of the following happens:

1. The missing person has been identified; or

2. The family member who voluntarily provided the DNA sample is determined not to be related to the missing person; or

3. The family member who voluntarily provided the DNA sample requests in writing that it be removed. 

After an identification is confirmed, the DNA profiles from the relatives of a missing person are removed from the database. In the event only partial remains are located and identified, laboratory personnel may decide to allow the Family Reference Samples to remain in the database to assist with possible future recoveries. The family member who voluntarily provided the DNA sample may request in writing that the DNA profile be removed from NDIS at any time. 

Once a potential association is found, the results are provided to the law enforcement agency and the appropriate medico-legal (usually a medical examiner or coroner) authority. Only the designated medico-legal authority can declare the identity through the issuance of a death certificate. 

Foreign nationals can be added to NDIS for the purpose of assisting with the identification of a missing family member. The Federal DNA Identification Act does not limit the entry of a voluntarily provided Family Reference Sample based on the nationality of the donor. However, any voluntarily provided DNA sample must be collected in the presence of law enforcement and include the appropriate consent and information documentation.