COMDTINST 6510.1A
22 August 2014
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 6510.1A
Subj: USING THE ARMED FORCES REPOSITORY OF SPECIMEN SAMPLES FOR THE
IDENTIFICATION OF REMAINS (AFRSSIR)
Ref: (a) Coast Guard Medical Manual, COMDTINST M6000.1 (series)
(b) Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Operations, DoDI 5154.30
1. PURPOSE. To establish policy and procedures on collecting and submitting
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) specimens to the Armed Forces DNA Identification
Laboratory (AFDIL) for use in identifying human remains.
2. ACTION. All Coast Guard unit commanders, commanding officers, officers-in-charge,
deputy/assistant commandants, and chiefs of headquarters staff elements shall comply with
the provisions of this Instruction. Internet release is authorized.
3. DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. Using the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Specimen Repository
to Identify Human Remains, COMDTINST 6510.1 is cancelled.
4. BACKGROUND.
a. AFRSSIR stores deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) reference specimens and maintains a
database to assist in their retrieval for human remains identification while assuring the
protection of privacy interests. AFRSSIR also purchases and distributes DNA collection
supplies to field sites for collecting specimens. Under procedures established by the
military services, specimen collection from all service members is mandatory.
b. The Coast Guard will implement the same changes to the mandatory DNA sample
collection program in order to align procedures with current AFRSSIR guidelines.
5. DISCLAIMER. This guidance is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is it
itself a rule. It is intended to provide operational guidance for Coast Guard personnel and is
not intended to nor does it impose legally-binding requirements on any party outside the
Coast Guard.
Commandant
United States Coast Guard
US Coast Guard Stop 7907
2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave
SE
ashington DC 20593-7907
-112
475-5169
Erica.G.Schwartz@uscg.mil
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