With the continuing development of extremely sensitive, automated systems f
or the detection of human DNA from a number of cellular sources, the proble
m of sample contamination from scents of crime, cadavers, and the mortuary
environment has become a potentially serious issue, with implications for a
ll involved in forensic investigations. A recent survey of 20 mortuaries id
entified quantifiable human DNA on mortuary work surfaces and instruments w
hich, when amplified, produced in some cases three or more profiles from si
ngle site samples, Possible sources of DNA contamination in the mortuary ar
e discussed, along with implications related to its presence and its avoida
nce during the sampling process. These observations may not be confined to
forensic practice. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.