DNA Lady
State contracted DNA paternity tests are not a priority for the contracted laboratories and so problems and errors occur more frequently. Many States contract with private laboratories at much discounted prices to obtain paternity tests. The result is a much extended turnaround time for the results and as the below excerpt will attest to (and a previous article submitted on www.dnalady.com blog) - too often errors happen.
As a parent, do you want someone else receiving your child's DNA test results? The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's website indicates that every parent should have a copy of their child's DNA for emergency purposes but the site clearly states that only parents should maintain a copy of their child's DNA. We do not know what the future use of DNA will be; much the same way; our grandparents didn't know how Social Security Numbers were going to be a means to identification, credit and finance processing, healthcare and medicare benefits etc.. You can't get a Chain of Custody DNA test taken today without your Social Security Number.
When Social Security Numbers were created the sole purpose was a means to identify an individuals' contribution to the Social Security System while in the workforce. From that figure, the government would determine your retirement benefit which would begin at age 65. Well the baby boomers know that age 65 for retirement is no longer a fact. We're told that to receive our total benefit we have to work until age 66 and 9 months or so....and that's the figure today in 2009.
However, today, every child is issued a Social Security number as a means of their first form of identification. On the day you are born, you are entered into a nationwide system of identification. Who is to say that these state held DNA records won't be used as a means for healthcare benefits eligibility, credit scores to obtain financing for homes, businesses or education or to identify an individual's job qualifications in the future. Are we putting our children at risk for having the State's perform DNA collections? DNA records are very personal and should never be held by anyone other than a parent, legal guardian or family member.
We do not know what the future holds for DNA and for those with the means, a private DNA testing facility should always be used for Paternity and other family relationships tests where DNA is collected and analyzed. A privately held DNA testing facility also needs to maintain a standard qualifications including but not limited to AABB, CAP, CLIA, ASCLD and other nationally known accrediting institutions. Today, DNA paternity tests are not that expensive (considering the alternative) and facilities are popping up all over the United States that offering properly accredited, community based, and confidential testing.
EXCERPT
FROM A NEWS CHANNEL 7 ONYOURSIDE
"I have my cover letter that they sent me with my information on it," said Left Blank for Confidentiality.
At first everything looked just fine when Let Blank for Confidentiality opened her paternity tests results from the South Carolina Department of Social Services. But as she turned the pages she realized the information she received wasn't hers. It was for another man, another woman, and a child she didn't know.
"It's just infuriating," said Left Blank for Confidentiality. "I was just so angry. I was like 'This isn't mine!' "
Left Blank for Confidentiality said she had access to personal information no one would want in a stranger's hands.
"I've got social (security numbers), I've got driver's license numbers, I've got addresses, I've even got pictures of what they look like," said Left Blank for Confidentiality. "This is their information. They don't know me they don't know who I am and here I am I've got everything."
Left Blank for Confidentiality said she went to a local DSS office for help.
"She was like, 'I apologize we just had a mistake. Your cover letter got on theirs and their cover letter got on yours and that was the mixup and this never happens'," said Left Blank for Confidentiality. "Apparently it does."
DSS spokesperson admitted it was a mistake. But she insisted private information did not go out to the other family. DSS also said they would be appointing someone to double check each mailing before it went out. But Left Blank for Confidentiality said the problems are continuing.
"Yes, it's still happening," said Left Blank for Confidentiality. "She called me yesterday and told me it looked like some more information got sent out to me that wasn't mine."
So we wrote to DSS again and the Director of the DSS Child Support Enforcement Division issued this statement:
"In following up on the original incident we discovered that a notice of a court hearing from another case had been sent to Ms. Left Blank for Confidentiality by mistake. A member of our staff visited Ms. Left Blank for Confidentiality to tell her of the error. This mistake was a result of human error and we are addressing that internally. We truly regret this happened."
It's the kind of problem Left Blank for Confidentiality said could have been prevented.
"That's just a mistake that cannot happen," said Left Blank for Confidentiality.
DSS told us they believe this mistake is a rare occurrence. If problems continue you can be sure 7 On Your Side will make sure it is addressed.
END OF EXCERPT
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