As the nation recovers from the horrific events of September 11, 2001, a dedicated team of professionals is hard at work searching for survivors and victims.

Victim identification issues in cases such as this are often significant. How are bodies identified? What type of DNA evidence is needed to identify a body, and how long does the identification process take? How long could someone survive in the rubble? And what physical effects will the debris and smoke have on the rescue workers?

The College of American Pathologists has prepared a list of questions and answers concerning forensic procedures, body identification, and related subjects. To receive a copy, contact Nicolle Heller or Patti Flesher at 1-800-323-4040, ext. 7538 and be prepared with your e-mail address and/or fax number.

In addition, several forensic pathologists with national experience in multiple fatality incidents, aviation recovery efforts, terrorism forensics, explosion fatalities and DNA identification techniques are also available as speakers for medical conferences. To learn more, please call the College of American Pathologists at 1-800, 323-4040, ext. 7538.

The College of American Pathologists is a medical society serving nearly 16,000 physician members and the laboratory community throughout the world. It is the world's largest association composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely recognized as the leader in laboratory quality assurance. The CAP is an advocate for high quality and cost-effective patient care and is based in Northfield, Ill.