# What's the fastest we can confirm a person's identity by DNA testing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-we-can-confirm-a-persons-identity-by-dna-testing/440603>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 8, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-we-can-confirm-a-persons-identity-by-dna-testing/440603 "2008-03-08T17:10:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-we-can-confirm-a-persons-identity-by-dna-testing/440603/1 "2008-03-08T17:10:30Z")

</div>

At this current point in time if we had to match a person’s DNA against a forensically obtained sample what’s the fastest we could accomplish this given current testing equipment?

Sorry mis-posted - This belongs in GQ would a mod please move.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-we-can-confirm-a-persons-identity-by-dna-testing/440603/2 "2008-03-08T18:37:29Z")

</div>

I reported it to a mod for moving, but my take on the situation is probably a week if they really pushed it. I think DNA ID is more of a month or more situation normally for forensic labs. If you go to a private lab it is probably in the week category. I think one of the main hold ups is in cloning the sections of DNA that you are targeting.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-we-can-confirm-a-persons-identity-by-dna-testing/440603/3 "2008-03-08T19:04:13Z")

</div>

[http://www.dnatestingcentre.com/testing.htm](http://www.dnatestingcentre.com/testing.htm) Home testing can be done within a week according to these people.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-we-can-confirm-a-persons-identity-by-dna-testing/440603/4 "2008-03-09T02:25:40Z")

</div>

I would think it could be done within several hours. All it takes is RFLP, VNTR, or PCR analysis, all of which can be done in a day. I think the limiting factor would be the amount of original sample with RFLP and VNTR analysis, but certain types of PCR (nested PCR, RT-PCR) are extremely sensitive and can be performed from a single cell.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-we-can-confirm-a-persons-identity-by-dna-testing/440603/5 "2008-03-09T02:41:15Z")

</div>

I feel safe in saying, it takes longer than an episode of CSI lasts.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-we-can-confirm-a-persons-identity-by-dna-testing/440603/6 "2008-03-09T03:21:19Z")

</div>

**Ten Little Indians** would have been a lot different had it taken place in a modern forensics lab.