How to Choose Your DNA Collection Site

How to Choose your DNA Collector?

DNA Testing is a dynamic and fast evolving industry. As this industry expands and the sophistication of the clientele increases, there will be a need for DNA Collectors to differentiate themselves through quality benchmarks.

As more people take a proactive role in their lives, and as antiquated paternity laws across the United States are updated, the DNA testing industry will further develop and mature and ultimately require an increased demand for certified neutral third party administrators to provide DNA collections and case management services.

Accrediting agencies are established to ensure high quality standards and accuracy of test results. Except for the State of New York, which has its own formal relationship laboratory evaluation program, the DNA testing industry standard is accreditation by the AABB. There are approximately 40 DNA laboratories accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks ("AABB"). Only those laboratories accredited by the AABB should be considered as private testing sources for legally-admissible DNA tests used as evidence in a court of law.

Other differentiating accreditations your DNA collector should be able to provide are College of American Pathologists (CAP); New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditations Board - International (ASCLD/LAB-International), the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) as distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and the Forensic Quality Services-International (FQS-I/ISO IEC 17025).

The average consumer does not understand the difference between a Legally Admissible DNA test and a DNA test from samples collected through a home collection kit. A legally-admissible test result requires strict chain-of-custody, from the moment a DNA sample is collected.The DNA sample must be collected by a disinterested third party; original photo identification must be presented; personal identification information is obtained, such as social security numbers and dates of birth; and tested parties are required to sign a form consenting to the DNA test. Diligent collectors go one step further by fingerprinting the parties involved in the DNA testing process.

An at home collection kit is sent to parties who wish to have a DNA test performed; however, want to remain anonymous. The samples are collected by the tested parties or parties they designate, and no proof of identification is required. AABB-accredited laboratories will place a disclaimer on test results derived from home collection kits, reflecting proper chain-of-custody procedures were not followed and therefore the results may not be used in a court to obtain child support or other benefits.

The number of genetic systems a laboratory analyzes determines the power of the test and the reliability of results.The number of genetic systems tested by a laboratory is a significant factor when choosing a private laboratory. Most AABB-accredited laboratories test 16 genetic systems, generally providing a probability of paternity of 99.9% or greater.

Non-accredited DNA laboratories have been known to test a lower number of genetic systems.The rule of thumb in the DNA testing industry is to beware of tests results that do not provide a probability of paternity equal to or greater than 99%. In the State of New Jersey, if the Probability of Paternity is 95% or higher, the man tested is presumed to be the biological father.

Look for an AABB-accredited laboratory that can test more than 16 genetic systems.You may need to test additional genes for complex cases, such as situations where the alleged father could be one of two brothers, or a brother and father; or an alleged father is deceased and a family reconstruction may be appropriate.

Some DNA laboratories have higher quality control measures than others. While accreditations are important, other measures of quality should be considered as well.

Here are some questions to ask when choosing a DNA collector: