On average, around 60 staff from more than 20 countries are working in the Thai Tsunami Disaster Victim Identification (TTVI) Information Management Centre in Phuket, Thailand.
   The unit includes forensic specialists in a number of areas, including odontology, fingerprints and DNA.
   The centre is split into various sections to process both ante and post mortem information which are then entered into a specially created database to assist with the identification of all victims of the Thai tsunami.
   Once a potential match has been made, both the post and ante mortem information on that individual is sent to the reconciliation team where the potential match is verified.
   If the reconciliation team believes the match is positive, the file is then sent to the Identification Board, which is the equivalent of a coroner’s court in many countries. The    Identification Board gives official approval to any victim identification and also authorizes the body to be released for repatriation where necessary.

ANTE MORTEM

   Police in countries which have missing persons can download the Interpol missing person report forms from the Interpol public website. Once completed, these are then sent electronically to the International Missing Persons unit at the TTVI Information Management Centre in Phuket.
   Each country which has missing persons thought to be a victim is asked to send as much detail as possible – physical description, dental records and x-rays, photographs, fingerprints, DNA and medical history.
   The dental information is sent to the dental ante-mortem inputting area where it is verified and by forensic dentists.
   The fingerprint information is sent to the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) where experts from around the world check and input the information.
   All this information is then added to a unique file created for each victim where it can be checked against post mortem information gathered by the DVI teams.

POST MORTEM

   31 Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) teams from around the world have been working in Phuket to assist the Thai authorities in identifying the victims.
   The teams are using the Interpol DVI protocols to ensure a co-ordinated collection of post mortem evidence.
   Dental x-rays and photographs are sent to the dental post mortem section in the TTVI – IMC where they are verified and inputted by forensic dentists.
   Fingerprint information is sent to AFIS where it is also checked and inputted into the system.
   DNA samples taken from the body are sent to a laboratory in China where it is profiled and the information is then sent in a numeric form to the TTVI – IMC to be attached to the unique file created for each victim.