Unless you've been living in a
cave for the last ten years, you're probably aware of the growing role of DNA
testing in everyday life. From forensics to relationships to ancestry, DNA
testing is changing the way we validate truth.
One of the fastest growing areas of DNA testing is in the realm of DNA paternity
testing. There now exist online an abundance of companies willing to provide
state-of-the-art DNA paternity testing services. Most of these companies send an
at-home DNA paternity test kit directly to you, so that you can collect the
necessary DNA samples in the privacy of your own home.
Because there are so many DNA laboratories vying for your business, you really
need to do some personal investigation to determine which company is right for
you and your situation. Since there is not yet any overall regulation of online
DNA paternity test providers, it's the buyer's (that's you) responsibility to
weed out the real labs from the fly-by-night operations. Here are some things to
consider:
The testing service should be
accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks and should be ISO 17025
certified. The American Association of Blood Banks is an international formed
"to advance the practice and standards of transfusion medicine and cellular and
related biological therapies." ISO stands for International Standards
Organization. The ISO has set quality standards for DNA testing laboratories.
These organizations perform audits and inspections of accredited companies to
ensure that they maintain high standards. Laboratories holding both
accreditations are demonstrating a commitment to quality and accuracy.
Beware of hidden costs. Make sure the fee you pay is all-inclusive. It should
include the sample collection kit for a home DNA test, analysis by the lab, and
results. There have been instances where labs have received DNA samples from
clients and analyzed them, only to demand additional payment before providing
the results.
Make sure you're getting what you need. Choose the right test for your
situation. And find out the company's response time. Can they meet your
deadlines if you have any? Most labs can provide results in three to nine days,
depending on the test. Expedited service is often available for an extra fee.
Find out about their privacy policies. Do they guarantee complete
confidentiality? Also read about their staff. Companies that provide DNA
paternity testing or other DNA tests should employ staff with doctoral level
degrees in appropriate disciplines like molecular biology and medical genetics.
Do they own their own laboratory or are they outsourcing the analysis to another
company? If there are other resellers and brokers in the chain, it may cost you
more. Brokers receive your samples and then turn around and forward them to
another lab for testing. If the price isn't marked up in this process, then you
can probably expect the quality to be lowered.
If you're ordering a DNA paternity test, or some other type of DNA test, it's
obviously important to you. The results and your actions based on those results
will likely have far-reaching and long-lasting consequences, especially in the
case of a DNA paternity test. So it's really very important to practice due
diligence--that is, do your homework. Investigate the companies you're
considering. If their websites don't adequately answer your questions, then call
them on the telephone and speak to a representative. Don't even consider
companies you can't contact directly.
Family Tree DNA
- America's first genealogy driven DNA Testing Service
