Choosing A Paternity Testing Lab

Is the lab AABB Parentage Testing Committee accredited for DNA parentage testing?

Do the customer service representatives answer all of your questions and make you feel comfortable with every step of the testing procedure?

Does the paternity testing lab adhere to any other quality assurance standards?

Does the lab offer the payment and testing options that you need?

If the test is being performed for legal purposes, does the lab have a history of high legal acceptance?

How many genetic markers are examined? What testing quality assurance measures are in place?

1.   Is the lab AABB Parentage Testing Committee accredited for DNA parentage testing?

AABB accreditation follows an intensive review and inspection of laboratory policies and procedures by the Inspection and Accreditation Committee of the Association, and establishes that the level of technical and administrative performances within the DNA Identity Testing Laboratory meets or exceeds the standards set by the AABB. Only 48% of paternity testing labs have this accreditation. If you obtain paternity testing from a lab without this accreditation; the results may not be reliable or acceptable for legal purposes.

Genelex has been AABB accredited for DNA parentage testing since 1992. You can view a list of all accredited labs at the AABB web site.
If a lab is not listed, they are not accredited.

2.   Do the customer service representatives answer all of your questions and make you feel comfortable with every step of the testing procedure?

DNA paternity testing is often an emotional issue for the parties involved. Make certain that the representatives you deal with listen to, understand and address your needs. Genelex staff will explain our paternity testing services and procedures in language you can understand. We'll track your case and keep you informed of your progress every step of the way. Click here to see what other customers have to say about us.

3.   Does the paternity testing lab adhere to any other quality assurance standards?

Ask the lab what other quality assurance programs they have in place especially if you will be using the results for legal reasons. Results from a laboratory with more than one type of quality assurance in place have a history of high courtroom acceptance.

Genelex is one of only a handful of paternity labs that also has New York State Department of Health and CLIA medical test site accreditation. In addition, Genelex has completed more than forty external proficiency tests by the College of American Pathologists and Collaborative Testing Services and hundreds of blind tests as required by our convicted offender DNA databank contracts.

4.   Does the lab offer the payment and testing options that you need?

Be certain that the paternity testing lab you are dealing with offers the options you need. Many labs on the internet only offer home tests which are not considered legally binding. If you are obtaining a test for any other reason than peace of mind, be sure to obtain a fully documented paternity test.

A standard paternity test is performed with samples from the alleged father and child; the mother's sample is helpful but not required. If you are in need of a more complicated parentage test, be certain that the laboratory you are dealing with has experience in this area.

Many people are on a budget and may not be able to afford the entire fee at one time. If this is a consideration, always ask about the payment options available.

Genelex offers the widest spectrum of parentage tests available including DNA home tests, fully documented, motherless testing, prenatal paternity testing, CVS (chorionic cillus sample) testing, kinship analysis, sibship analysis, newborn or umbilical cord testing, and deceased paternity testing. We also have extensive experience with non-standard samples such as old blood stains, bones, toothbrushes, and used kleenex. In addition we accept all major credit cards, checks, money orders, checks-by-phone, and cash. We offer a convenient payment plan and financing options.

5. If the test is being performed for legal purposes, does the lab have a history of high legal acceptance?

The acceptance of DNA testing varies from state-to-state. (For more information on DNA testing decisions in your state, see our book DNA in the Courtroom: A Trial Watchers Guide at www.genelex.com/paternitytesting/paternitybook.html In order to ensure that the results of the test will hold up in court; ask the lab for specific examples of their courtroom testimony and acceptance record. Ask if their testing has ever been ruled inadmissable.

Genelex testing has held up under Supreme Court Review and was key to the settlement of the widely publicized $800,000,000 Larry Hillblom Estate. Our paternity DNA testing and testimony has been used to resolve cases involving child support and child custody, immigration, insurance, inheritance, intellectual property, and serious criminal charges.

6. How many genetic markers are examined? What testing quality assurance measures are in place?

 

Genelex tests are 100 to 1000 times more discriminating than the industry standard. We test 16 markers including the 13 CODIS markers utilized by the FBI vs. the 8 to 10 tested in most labs and verify the sex of all tested individuals to assure you of reliable results. The more markers that are examined the higher the probability of paternity. The generally accepted inclusion percentage is 99% or 100 to 1, with 16 markers our typical inclusion rates exceed 99.999% or 100,000 to 1 for cases in which the mother, child , and father are tested. Additionally, we run all exclusions twice to confirm 100% exclusion.