Offering certified, forensic, DNA and Toxicology testing for post mortem/autopsy tissue and cremains (ashes) samples

Evaluations for autopsy blood, hair, organ tissue, finger nails, exhumation tissue, vitreous eye solution

• DNA and Toxicology lab testing related to cremains (ashes)
• Graveside test sample harvesting for exhumed body remains
• Harvesting of a cremains test samples from the urn, metallic cube, or box

Learn more about us on YOU TUBE

New! Now offering Expert Medical Records Review

Why you should insist on The Carlson Company for your DNA and Toxicology testing needs

• FREE real person client care by email or phone 7 days a week 7AM – 10PM MDT
• We check our emails and voice messages on a regular basis
• Protecting our clients privacy is our mandate
• We are members of the Southern Colorado Better Business Bureau

• Many our clients are private individuals but we also serve law enforcement, attorneys, the military, medical examiners, the government, anyone in need of our services
• We do not require a doctor’s referral or prescription
• We test samples from other labs if requested
• Your test samples can be submitted by mail from any where in the world
• 10-12 business day test report turnaround time most cases with express service available
• Ph.D. Expert Witness support is available when requested.
• “Cutting edge” DNA and Toxicology evaluations

Typical post mortem test samples

Cremains Testing and Evaluation

• Family members and friends of the deceased
• Proprietors of mortuaries, funeral homes, crematoriums
• Medical Examiners, County Corners, law enforcement, government agencies, insurers
• Attorneys who represent themselves or any of the above entities

A comment from one of our many clients . . .

Caveat:

Privacy Policy

Lab credentials and affiliations

Something to think about – Death by poisoning???

Profile of a typical poisoner

Criminal poisoning is the result of available poison or poisons being administered to a victim of choice by one with criminal intent

The Carlson Company LLC is not affiliated with any government or law enforcement agency

F.Y.I (for your information)

Cremains testing for DNA and Heavy Metals

What is DNA?

Deoxyribonucleic acid: an extremely long macromolecule that is the main component of chromosomes and is the material that transfers genetic characteristics in all life forms. Extracting a DNA profile from a cremains sample has the potential for positive results. Not all cremation processes are alike, uniform, or do they share equal destructive efficiency in the disposition of the cremated corpse. The cremation process is full of variables. Therefore if you are uncertain regarding the identity of the cremains in the urn presented to you by the funeral director or crematorium you should consider having the cremains extracted for an identifiable DNA profile. Cremains offer a 50/50 chance that an identifiable DNA profile will present. Perhaps you suspect that there was a mix up regarding the identity of urned cremains that were presented to you as being those of your loved one or friend.  Again, for similar reasons, we have been successful with testing cremains for the presence of heavy metals. Arsenic is a heavy metal and still considered to be a likely poison choice used in the commission of a capital crime, homicide. You should not leave this stone unturned. It’s time to bring closure to this matter and get on with your life, wouldn’t you agree? Please read on. Cremation is the final disposition practice of disposing of a human or animal corpse by burning the remains in a retort or oven which usually takes place at a crematorium or crematory. Cremains are described as any physical remains that are found in the commemorative urn following the cremation of a corpse, human or animal.  By law, human corpses are to be cremated one at a time.  Animals can be cremated as a group depending on size, the efficiency of the retort, and the customary operating procedures of the crematorium director.  Customarily a metal identification tag able to withstand the high cremation temperatures (760 to 1150 °C (1400 to 2100 °F) is placed on the corpse prior to cremation.  When the cremains or ashes are urned the I.D. tag is also urned with the ashes. As you can likely see the identity of the cremains still requires a high degree of trust from the entity that provides the services.  Would you agree that this fact is something to think about? How would you know for sure if in fact your loved one ‘s remains are within the urn that has been turned over to you following the cremation? You or a family representative would need to be present to insure that the corpse of your loved one was in fact the one placed in the retort and then urned. You or your chosen representative would need to witness the removal and urning of the cremains. Thanks to a newer technology known as nuclear DNA, cremains can be suitable sources for DNA profile extraction for comparison to a reference DNA sample.  The use of Nuclear and Mini Filer DNA extraction processes are common to forensic or court of law case proceedings. Cremains, depending on the efficiency of the retort, can offer the potential for evaluating for the presence of heavy metals including arsenic, mercury, lead, and many others.  Our clients have resorted to cremains DNA extraction and/or toxin, poison, and heavy metals testing evaluations when there simply was no other sample choice available for postmortem investigation such as autopsy or post mortem tissue samples. Extracting DNA from a cremains sample is at best a 50/50 proposition but merits your consideration if the cremains represent the only reference sample available.

Considering DNA extraction or toxicology testing for test samples harvested from an exhumed body?

• Temperature
• Oxygen
• Insects
• Burial Depth
• Trauma
• Humidity
• Rainfall
• Body Size
• Embalming
• Clothing

• Fingernails
• Teeth
• Femur (large upper leg bone)
• Foot phalanx (toe bones) patella (knee cap) metatarsal (other foot bones)

Alternate DNA Sources

All cremations are performed
individually. Exceptions can be made only in the case of close relatives, and
then only with the prior written instructions of the authorizing agent(s) and
only if state/provincial or local laws allow this.

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The cremation process begins with
the placement of the casket/container in the cremation chamber where it is
subjected to intense heat and flame reaching temperatures between 1400 and 1800
degrees fahrenheit. All substances are consumed except bone fragments (calcium
compounds) and any non-combustible materials, such as jewelry, dental gold,
prosthesis, latches, hinges, etc., that were not removed prior to cremation as
the temperature is not sufficient to consume them.

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During the cremation process it
may be necessary to open the cremation chamber and reposition the deceased in
order to facilitate a complete and thorough cremation.

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The time for cremation to be
completed varies with the size and weight of each human remains but usually
takes between 1-1/2 – 3 hours.

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Following a cooling period, the
cremated remains are then swept or raked from the cremation chamber. Every
effort is made to remove all human remains. However, a small residue may remain
in the cremation chamber, resulting in incidental commingling with other
cremated remains.

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After the cremated remains are
removed from the cremation chamber. All non-combustible materials that have not
been removed prior to cremation, will be separated and removed from the bone
fragments by visible or magnetic selection and will be disposed of by the
crematory in a non-recoverable manner.

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Once the bone fragments have been
separated from other material, they may be further processed to reduce the size
of the bone fragments to uniform particles.

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Cremated remains, depending on
the bone structure of the decedent, will weigh between 4 to 8 pounds, and are
usually white in color, but can be other colors due to temperature variations
and other factors.

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The crematory should be provided
with an urn in which the cremated remains will be placed. If no urn is provided
or the urn is not large enough to hold the remains, the crematory will place the
remains or any excess in a container made of plastic, light metal, cardboard,
unfinished wood, or other suitable material to hold the remains until an urn is
acquired or the cremated remains are
scattered.

Ash weight and composition

The ash remaining represents very roughly 3.5% of the body’s original mass
(2.5% in children). Because the weight of dry bone fragments is so closely
connected to skeletal mass, their weight varies greatly from person to person.
Because many changes in body composition (such as fat and muscle loss or gain)
do not affect the weight of cremated remains, the weight of cremains can be
more closely predicted from the person’s height and sex (which predicts
skeletal weight), than it can be predicted from the person’s simple weight.

Ashes of adults can be said to weigh from
4 pounds (1.8 kg) to 6 pounds (2.7 kg), but the first figure is roughly the
figure for women, and the second, for men. The mean weight of adult cremated
remains in a Florida, U.S. sample was 5.3 lb. (approx. 2.4 kg) for adults
(range 2 to 8 lbs. or 0.91 to 3.6 kg). This was found to be distributed
bimodality according to sex, with the mean being 6 pounds (2.7 kg) for men (range
4 to 8 lbs. or 1.8 to 3.6 kg) and 4 pounds (1.8 kg) for women (range 2 to 6
lbs. or 0.91 to 2.7 kg). In this sample, generally all adult cremated remains
over 6 pounds (2.7 kg) were from males, and those under 4 pounds (1.8 kg) were
from females. Not all that remains is bone. There may be
melted metal lumps from missed jewelry; casket furniture; dental fillings; and
surgical implants, such as hip replacements. Large items such as titanium hip
replacements (which tarnish but do not melt) or casket hinges are usually
removed before processing, as they may damage the processor. (If they are
missed at first, they must ultimately be removed before processing is complete,
as items such as titanium joint replacements are far too durable to be ground).
Implants may be returned to the family, but are more commonly sold as
ferrous/non-ferrous scrap metal. After the remains are processed, smaller bits
of metal such as tooth fillings, and rings (commonly known as gleanings)
are sieved out and may be later interred in common, consecrated, ground in a
remote area of the cemetery. They may also be sold as precious metal scrap.

FYI – For Your Information