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Genetic testing in sudden unexpected natural death in the young: New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner’s experience and perspective

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Abstract

Postmortem genetic testing is a diagnostic tool that is becoming increasingly utilized. The benefits and limitations of genetic testing in cases of sudden, unexpected death in the young (≤ 40 years old) are reviewed from the perspective of the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York, whose Molecular Genetics Laboratory, accredited by College of American Pathologists, has had 15 years of postmortem testing experience. Challenges to the interpretation and communication of testing results are highlighted, and opportunities for improving testing yield are discussed for age groups across the lifespan, from infancy to adulthood.

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Funding

Grant awards (2015-DN-BX-K017 and 2014-DN-BX-K001) by National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Office of Chief Medical Examiner, 421 East 26th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Yingying Tang & Nori Williams

  2. Forensic Pathology Department, Office of Chief Medical Examiner, New York, NY, USA

    Barbara A. Sampson

Authors
  1. Yingying Tang
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  2. Nori Williams
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  3. Barbara A. Sampson
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Correspondence to Yingying Tang.

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Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York approved this work.

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Tang, Y., Williams, N. & Sampson, B.A. Genetic testing in sudden unexpected natural death in the young: New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner’s experience and perspective. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 15, 481–484 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-018-0068-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-018-0068-6

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