February 2010 Archives

If you have exhausted all other methods of having children, there are options to creating a family today that could not ever be imagined in our parents time. 

"Rent a womb", I don't mean any disrespect to either side.  Those in the position of offering their womb for money are bringing happiness to so many couples and those in the position of paying to "rent a womb" provide a financial incentive to women who otherwise may not find the means to support their current children.  Provided the new parents are not just trying to preserve their "girlish figures" or "don't have time to take off from their busy careers" and the surrogate moms are not jeopardizing their own health and are able to carry a baby to full term, then the reasons are pure and noble to go through surrogacy and by all means this is just a god given advancement in science that we all should enjoy. 

The first step is to decide on the best kind of surrogacy. There are two types of surrogacy - 

• Genetic. The surrogate is the genetic mother of the resulting child. In this the surrogate is artificially inseminated with the father(or a male sperm donor). Genetic surrogacy is simpler compared to gestational surrogacy. A DNA test at birth can determine for sure whether the child was produced as a results of the artificial insemination. If a family has any doubt about the artificial insemination's success, a PreNatal Paternity Test can also be performed but everyone should understand the risks involved to both fetus and mother.
• Gestational. In this the surrogate is not the genetic mother of the resulting child. The eggs(oocytes) are extracted from the mother(or egg donor) and mixed with the sperm from the father(sperm donor) in-vitro(in a test-tube, culture plate or similar vessel) that has an environment that will simulate that of the fallopian tubes.  A short biology lesson - a woman's eggs mature and move out of the ovaries into the woman's fallopian tubes where they are fertilized by sperm and move down the fallopian tube to the uterus in a normal pregnancy. In in-vitro fertilization, the embryo is transferred into the surrogate's uterus.

In detail, in case of gestational surrogacy, the egg-donor is prepared by administering follicle stimulating (hormonal) medications to stimulate the production of multiple eggs. This procedure takes about 4-6 weeks. These medications cause more than one egg to mature and the eggs will be retrieved before they are released from the ovaries. These retrieved eggs are then fertilized by the sperm in a Petri dish in an incubator.

When the fertilized eggs reach the four to ten cell stage of development; they are called embryos and are ready to be placed in the womb of the surrogate, which is simultaneously prepared to receive the embryo so that it could be carried to term.

Again, DNA testing is recommended to assure the new parents are actually the biological parents of the embryo.Paternity and Maternity Tests can be performed either at birth or prenatally via amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling, in order to confirm that the donor egg and sperm did indeed produce a child.  Since there risk involved with PreNatal Paternity Testing,  a doctor should explain to both sides any circumstantial risks.

Not all eggs which are retrieved get fertilized and not all of the fertilized eggs are used in the current IVF cycle. Some of the embryos are cryopreserved for future IVF procedures. Deciding on the fate of the cryopreserved embryos early on in the procedure and in writing will eliminate unnecessary stress afterwards.

Cost

Finally, you can find a surrogate in the United States by contacting your local Fertility Center or In-Vitro Fertilization Center. However, skyrocketing medical insurance costs have once again put the United States at a financial disadvantage and many other countries are offering Surrogacy Programs.  For a list of countries offering Surrogacy programs check out Medical Tourism.  The DNA Lady does not endorse any of these sites and strongly recommend potential families investigate fully the facility they intend to use.

All families are a blessing, no matter how you arrive at them or how you define them.

There is a flurry of activity and paperwork and emotional highs and lows that go along with any pregnancy.  This is not the time to worry about "hurt feelings" or "political correctness".  You are in the process of having a baby via a surrogate mom and while most Surrogate Agencies are reputable, it is best to have a private DNA test performed to confirm this is your genetic or biological baby.

Today's DNA tests are non-invasive and to determine if the correct sperm and egg were fertilized a prenatal paternity or maternity test can actually be conducted in order to remove any doubts as early as 9 weeks into the pregnancy.  If the surrogate mother is undergoing an amniocentesis (usually after 12 weeks) or chorionic villis sampling (usually after 9 weeks) as part of her regular genetic testing during pregnancy, then at the same time, a Prenatal Paternity or Maternity Test can be performed.  A lab technician will remove a small sample of the amniotic fluid or fetal cells, which can be matched to the genetic mother and/or father to determine parentage.  A non-invasive cheek swab of the surrogate mother should also be collected to rule out any discrepancy.

While most Surrogate Agencies offer DNA testing at birth, it is strongly suggested that you conduct your own private DNA test at the same time for confirmation.  If your surrogate mother is outside of the United States, the Consulate will require a DNA test conducted by an AABB accredited laboratory to issue a U.S. passport for your child to travel back home.

 

 

Private DNA Collection facilities receive phone calls all day about DNA Tests, what is the process, how long will it take, does the mother need to be present, what is the accuracy of our tests and in today's economy, one key question is always - How Much Does A DNA Cost?

The most experienced sales person or telemarketer can steer any phone call away from price as a selling point to a need based purchase.  However, the customer asking about DNA Testing already knows this is a needs-based purchase so the best method to complete the sale is to assure them of the accuracy and reliability of the DNA tests.  With the availability of do it yourself DNA kits - why should a family come to a "brick and mortar" office and have the collection performed?  The main reason is because private DNA collection experts,  have been doing DNA collections for a long time and will follow a strict chain of custody on all samples, assuring accuracy and reliability of the results from collection to sample receipt at the laboratory to results delivery to the consumer. 

Another good reason is that most consumers (unless you have a biology degree) are not familiar with the bells and whistlers of the Paternity tests results sheet.  What is an allele, what does the paternity index mean, what is an amelogin, what is the local law regarding the probability of paternity percentage, how many exclusions does a lab use to determine non-relationship status.  Once you receive the DNA tests results, having someone to talk directly to about the DNA results is reassuring.  If you use the OTC DNA tests, the customer service operators are not personally familiar with your case and the circumstances.  Whereas had you been collected by a local, private DNA collector, the circumstances are familiar to the DNA collector and you have someone to speak to directly, by phone or in person to assure you about the test. 

Of course, a major consideration on using a private DNA collector is the amount of accreditation their laboratories have achieved.  The minimum accreditation for family relationship testing should be the American Association of Blood Banks or AABB.  A laboratory that advertises AABB accreditation will have the following practices in place:

• Quality and Management System
• Regular Internal and External Audits
• Regular Proficiency Testing of DNA analysts (**)
• Standard Operating Procedures
• Stringent Qualifications for Staff
• Use of Validated Methods
• Duplicate Testing of Exclusions
• Continuing Education for Staff
• Regular Calibration of Laboratory Equipment (**)
• Record Retention Requirements
• Confidentiality Polices

  I like to tell my callers, that using our laboratories vs. an internet kit, is laking to the difference between having a Ph.d or a high school student interpret your DNA tests.  Our Ph.d will have access to equipment that is the "mercedes" of industry standards vs. the "rent a wreck" of industry standard equipment.  Non-accredited laboratories do not have to follow industry standards.  Think about the investment into the staff and equipment that an accredited laboratory has to maintain. 

The results of DNA tests are life changing - you want to be sure that DNA analysis is performed by someone who is properly trained on the most current methods of interpreting results, has access to the best database interpreting mutations and using equipment that is 21st century

As with every industry, it is Buyer Beware and having a local DNA office to return to for questions and follow up is comforting to most families. 

A reporter from the CNN news network : (Names removed for Privacy) When AB's daughter, Baby Girl AB, was a month old, her pediatrician asked AB to sit down because he had some bad news to tell her.  Baby Girl AB carried a gene that put her at risk for cystic fibrosis.  There are a host of other blogs related to genetic testing and how patients need support and follow up when given "predictive" information.  This particular blog relates to who should collect and store such personal information. 

Baby Girl AB received further genetic testing at the consent of her parents, and it was determined that she doesn't have the disease.  After digesting the second set of genetic testing results  -- the couple wondered how the doctor knew about Baby Girl AB's genes in the first place. After all, they'd never consented to the original genetic testing.  Also, as a parent, can you imagine being told that your child is at risk for CF and then later finding out that is not the case - I cannot imagine the turmoil and upset this information created in their family. 

Newborn babies in the United States are routinely screened for a panel of genetic diseases. Since the testing is mandated by the government, it's often done without the parents' consent, according to the National Newborn Screening & Genetics Resource Center.

In many states, newborn, babies' DNA is stored indefinitely, according to the resource center. In New Jersey, newborn babies' DNA is stored for 23 years.  In 2008 alone over 125,000 samples of newborn's DNA was collected and stored in a government or state run lab in New Jersey.  While I do not think that parents should forego such genetic screening, I think they should have the right to have the screening done privately and with their complete consent.  While we know the law (GINA) signed by then President George W. Bush is supposed to protect future generations from discrimination based on their genetic profiles, even the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children suggests that only parents or legal guardians should have access to a child's genetic profile. 

Many parents don't realize their baby's DNA is being stored in a government lab, but when they find out, as this couple did, they take action. Parents in Texas, and Minnesota have filed lawsuits, and these parents' concerns are sparking a new debate about whether it's appropriate for a baby's genetic blueprint to be in the government's possession.

"We were appalled when we found out," says AB, who's a registered nurse. "Why do they need to store my baby's DNA indefinitely? Something on there could affect her ability to get a job later on, or get health insurance."  Information from computers is dumped from one system to another all the time - what guarantee do we have that these genetic profiles will not end up in hands of insurance companies, university financial aid offices or future employers. 

A bioethicist at the University of Pennsylvania, says he "understands" why states don't first ask permission to screen babies for genetic diseases. The state has an overriding interest in protecting these babies," he says.  Really, if there is an overriding interesting in protecting babies, why aren't all babies tested.  In New Jersey, in 2007 there were over 116,00 Live Births recorded whereas only 112,255 routinely screened for a panel of genetic diseases.  What was the criteria for not screening the other 4,000 live births? 

The storage of DNA for long periods of time is a different matter. What is the reason that new born's DNA is stored for 23 years  in New Jersey - why not 21 or 25?  Why store the DNA sample at all once the predictive analysis is performed why is it necessary to maintain such personal information in a government run database?

"I don't see any reason to do that kind of storage," says the UOP, bioethicist.  "If it's anonymous, then I don't care. I don't have an issue with that. But if you keep names attached to those samples, that makes me nervous."

DNA given to outside researchers

Genetic testing for newborns started in the 1960s with testing for diseases and conditions that, if undetected, could kill a child or cause severe problems, such as mental retardation. Since then, the screening has helped save countless newborns.  There are enough parents who would freely submit to DNA screenings at Clinical Trials - why does the government believe they have an inalienable right to our DNA?  Are they researching what demographic would genetically be the best President or Athlete or Warrior? 

 (To find out how long your baby's DNA is stored, see this state-by-state list.)  If the diseases are not infectious or communicable, again, why are we storing the personal information.  Remember there ares $$$$ attached to the storage - does the federal government really have that kind of $$$ to continue with this practice  Also, does the federal government have the $$$ to continue to pay for Paternity Tests? 

The federally funded genetic resource consortium, says parents don't need to worry about the privacy of their babies' DNA. "The states have in place very rigid controls on those specimens, If my children's DNA were in one of these state labs, I wouldn't be worried a bit."  Thank you sir, may I have another?

The specimens don't always stay in the state labs. They're often given to outside researchers -- sometimes with the baby's name attached.  Does anyone see an insane intrusion on the privacy of future generations.  Is Glenn Beck right in stating that our future generations are being set up by progressives in our government to lose our rights as outlined by the founding fathers in the Constitution?

The researchers do not have to have parental consent to obtain samples as long as the baby's name is not attached, according to one of the authors of the Minnesota report. However, she says it's her understanding that if a researcher wants a sample with a baby's name attached, consent first must be obtained from the parents.  AB says that even with these assurances, she still worries whether someone could gain access to Baby Girl AB's sample with her name attached.

Scientists have heralded this enormous collection of DNA samples as a "gold mine" for doing research, according to the Minnesota report.  "This sample population would be virtually impossible to get otherwise," according to a genetic counselor for the Minnesota Department of Health. Although the comments are probably not meant to convey that our future generations are just "guinea pigs" for today's researchers - can I read it any other way? 

"I know the government says my baby's data will be kept private, but I'm not so sure. I feel like my trust has been taken," says AB.

Parents don't give consent to screening

AB says she first lost trust when she learned that Baby Girl AB had received genetic testing in the first place without consent from her or her husband. "I don't have a problem with the testing, but I wish they'd asked us first," she says.  Since health insurance paid for Baby Girl AB genetic screening, her positive test for a cystic fibrosis gene is now on the record with her insurance company, and AB is concerned this could hurt her child in the future.  AB should also be concerned for themselves and any other offspring in the future - the records contain enough information to tie in the whole family.  When the laws change in the future to keep pace with technology - will Baby Girl AB's offspring be protected? Will Baby Girl's siblings be affected?

Some  healthcare professionals have commented that at the time of Baby Girl AB's birth, there was probably a package of paperwork for this couple to sign and one document just looks like another.  It is not the norm for a hospital to collect DNA samples without the patient's consent. 

"In the military, for instance, the government can take and store DNA samples, but they tell you they're doing it, and you can choose not to join if you don't like it.  Families can find a private DNA testing facility that offers DNA Storage or DNA Safeguarding and let the military know that they have taken the necessary precautions on their own.  In the event their loved one becomes missing or lost, authorities can have access to the DNA profile upon written consent from the family, legal guardian or donor. 

What can parents do

In some states, including Minnesota and Texas, the states are required to destroy a baby's DNA sample if a parent requests it. Parents who want their baby's DNA destroyed are asked to fill out forms.  Check with your genetic counselor, pediatrician or social worker if they have the forms for your State. 

However, that it's not clear whether a state would necessarily obey your wishes.

DNA testing has come a long way and today it is being used to trace the ancestry of ancient bones discovered during an archeological dig in Vagnari, Italy. Researchers in Italy are all abuzz because they learned something quite surprising and intriguing when they tested the ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from one of the remains.     Mitochondrial DNA is passed from the mother to her offspring and from generation to generation there are few mutations. People who are related to each other will have similar mutations - allowing the researchers to put them into broad categories or  "haplogroups,".  Haplogroups tend to relate to geographical areas of the world- (see blog entry regarding the 18 Haplogroups) The bones, which date back 2,000 years, show a link to East Asian ancestry or the Haplogroup D.

Thanks to isotopic evidence, researchers have found that around 20% of the bones currently analyzed were not born in the vicinity of Vagnari. The mtDNA points to the assessment that at least this one male individual came from East Asian descent. It shows that the people who resided in the region thousands of years ago were not native and belonged to foreign locations. Researchers theorize they somehow found themselves in Vagnari, traveling across the borders of the Roman Empire. 

One theory regarding the presence of East Asians in the early Roman Empire is that they lived between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. They were most likely slaves or workers. The burial plot had a single pot, which helped archeologists date the approximate time of burial. They were also able to indicate that his burial was disrupted in some way (during the ancient past) and someone was actually buried on top of his body.

Questions left unanswered include how recently the subject or his ancestors departed East Asia and if more people followed his lead.  This one male body could have been the first member of his family in Vagnari or his great grandmother could have been the first to make the migration.  However, by analyzing the oxygen isotope evidence, it is known that he was not born in Italy and that he most likely originated outside of the Roman Empire.

At the time of the burial, Vagnari was an Imperial estate belonging to the emperor of Rome, but controlled by a local administrator. Workers were brought in to satisfy the industrial needs of Vagnari, which included generating tile and smelting iron. The tiles were used to create roofs for buildings and also served as grave covers for the people laid to rest in the cemetery. Researchers have come to this conclusion by finding fragments of tiles in and around Vagnari that bear the markings "Gratus Caesaris." When translated, it means, "slave of the emperor."

Archeologists also learned a lesson by excavating this site. A common practice is to assess grave goods to identify the origin of ancient remains. However, the goods found in the grave are not connected to the descent of the remains.

The research at the Vagnari site was made possible with funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Are Middlesex County's Streets really Safe Anymore?

Another local Metuchen, NJ 08840 newspaper reported an attempted kidnapping of a 45 year woman at an office building on Durham Avenue in Metuchen, NJ.  The headline of this local newspaper read "Metuchen police charge man with attempted kidnapping"  If you've been following my blog, you'll remember that since last October , I blogged about two other incidents one in Metuchen where teenagers and young men from Brooklyn were involved and one in nearby Edison where a young child walking ahead of her parent was approached by a man in a van.  I remember those "man in vans" on the streets of Brooklyn and running passed them as fast as possible to catch up to a crowd of kids walking together.  Even t hen we knew there was safety in numbers.  But that was in the 1960s, and while the exposure was psychological harmful - today's "man in van" seem to have less fear and more bravado as they approach and snatch young children on the streets.   We do not live in Oz anymore, the once bucolic town of Metuchen is now exposed to the charms of the outside world.  Whether it is the economy, changing culture or what - times are dangerous and it is important for children to know Stranger Danger rules, how to protect themselves, who they should trust (police officer, school principals, firemen) so that in the frightful event of a stranger abduction - rather than panic, the children feel they have some control over the situation.  Make noise, remember 911, leave your clothes (jacket shoes T shirt somewhere) but most importantly have a plan.  Who will they call, what is the code word for family members and who maintains the child's DNA Genetic Profile.  A one time Child Safety Identification Safety Kit contains all the identifying information an authority will collect from you in the event of an emergency.  It's fun to collect (Have a CSI Party) , non-invasive and the 21st century method of safeguarding your children.    The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says only parents or legal guardians should have access to their child's DNA Profile.  

Repubishing previous entry:
Does anyone read the fine print these days - I don't mean the small print at the bottom of your small appliance contract - I mean the fine print still found in black and white ink newspapers that concern your neighborhood events.

In local 08817,08818,08820,08837,08899 and 08840, there are still freely distributed newspapers that have quietly reported on two worrisome events in the last 5 months, not usually associated with these zipcodes.

The first headline read "Two men charged with Luring in Metuchen" and the second read "Edison Police search for man who may have approached girl".  These reports are frightening to any parent with young children.  There's no follow up or closing copy to these cases, so we can only assume that either the events are isolated or that these individuals are out on our streets just looking for an opportunity.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports that every 26 seconds another child becomes lost or missing.  Nearly 2,000,000 American children per year are lost, kidnapped, missing or runaway.  While DNA or dentition cannot locate a missing person, DNA is the gold standard of human identification and can assist authorities in the time of emergency. 

For parents who have already gone through the Paternity Testing process, the upside benefit is that you have a DNA Profile of your child to offer to local authorities, in the event a child becomes lost, missing, or kidnapped.   For the modern, 21st Century parent, the best method to safeguard your school aged child - is to have a DNA Profile taken by a private facility and kept with your child's other identifying documents.  A  genetic profile is also recommended for Alzheimer's patients and civilians working in foreign countries considered at risk, or civilians working in high risk occupations, such as police, and firemen.

Check with your local dentist or childcare facility to determine if they participate in the Child Safety Identification programs being offered by local DNA collection sites.  Set up a Child Safety Day and have a DNA collector come to your site.  Today's DNA collection is non-invasive and within 3-5 business days, parents can add another tool in the Safeguarding of their children.   

Alleged fathers, worried new moms, adults in search of parents, grandparents.

Day in and day out, we pick up the phone and hear different voices,  with a nagging doubt about a grandchild but most of all - just people, like you and me, with questions about the DNA testing process. 

Often times the young men (alleged fathers) are concerned about the child, but also just want to protect themselves.   There are the young men, though who are shell shocked about the situation because they haven't had any contact with the new mother in months.  Recently I met a young guy, who was seeing the new born baby for the first time on the day of the Paternity Test.  His reaction was a "handshake and congratulations" to the new mom?  Is it cultural or was this sad?  Nine months ago this young couple were so close that they conceived a child (allegedly) together and today they can barely be in the same room with one another.   I have had other couples, who because of circumstances need a Court Admissible Paternity Test, and when I try to photograph the couple, I can barely get them close enough to be in the same photo.  Yet again, we know that 9 months ago....

The women, if they have just given birth are either angry or just feeling lousy and want to get the whole process over whereas the grandparents are only inquiring on behalf of their "son".  Whatever the circumstances, the DNA Lady provides answers and assurance that DNA testing is the most conclusive method available to prove a biological relationship. 

I also work with adults, who have spent the better part of their adult life searching for a biological parent.  There is sometimes a happy ending and after 30 something years of "not knowing" , "just not sure", "mom, wasn't clear on her information" - we find the alleged fathers - in another state but willing and interested in having the DNA test.   I think I get the most satisfaction out of these tests - because the parties involved are usually very happy to be tested and truly concerned with the outcome of the tests.  Also, maybe a little sad at having lost the opportunity to know their child as he/she grew up. 

Frequently Asked Questions about DNA and Paternity Tests, are listed below.

• Why would I need a DNA test?
• Who is tested in a paternity test?
• How accurate are DNA tests?
• What is used for a DNA test sample?
• How are the DNA samples collected?
• Can tested parties live in different cities?
• When will I receive my paternity test results?
• Can I use DNA Lady's test results in court?
• How can I pay for my DNA test?
• Does DNA Lady offer a payment plan?
• How do I make an appointment for my DNA test?
• What should I bring to my Legal DNA sample collection appointment?
• Is the mother's DNA sample required for a paternity test?
• Is it a problem if there are two possible fathers and they are related?
• Can I do a paternity test before the baby is born?
• How much will my DNA test cost?
• Is there a DNA sample collection location near me?
• What happens at the DNA sample collection appointment?
• Will my DNA test results be legally defensible?
• Can DNA test results be used to obtain child support?
• What does "chain of custody process" mean?
• Who is entitled to receive the DNA paternity test results?

Alleged fathers who are related

If two possible fathers are related as full brothers or father and son, they may share many of the DNA markers used in paternity testing. This means that if proper precautions are not taken, both men could test positive as the child's biological father. DNA testing will determine paternity in a case involving related alleged fathers but we must be aware of the situation before the testing process begins.

Usually the mother, child and alleged father should all be tested. The mother contributed one-half of her DNA to the child and the remaining DNA must then match the alleged father. It is possible to obtain accurate results without mother's sample if she is not available for testing.

DNA Lady offers two options:

• Test both alleged fathers, the child, and the mother at the same time. By comparing both alleged fathers' DNA profiles with the child's DNA profile, our expert laboratory staff can achieve accurate and conclusive test results. There is an added fee for the additional alleged father.
• Test one alleged father with extended analysis. This option can be taken when only one of the alleged fathers is available for testing. To produce a conclusive result, we must perform extended testing and statistical analysis. There is an additional fee for the extended testing and analysis. 

DNA test results provided by DNA Lady are extremely accurate.

We routinely release test results with a probability of paternity of 99.9% or higher; or, 100% probability in cases which exclude the alleged father. In addition we test each DNA sample twice following the highest standards in quality control which is unprecedented in the DNA testing industry.

DNA Lady uses a cotton-tipped swab, called a "buccol cheek swab". The DNA Sample is collected by swabbing the inside cheek of the mouth. It is painless and non-invasive, and the results are just as accurate as blood samples. For certain kinds of DNA tests, like those for infidelity, other biological samples are acceptable including drops of blood or other genetic material found on an item of clothing.

We make the DNA sample collection process easy and convenient for you. First we will either arrange an appointment at our collection facility or we can have our collector come to you on a mobile basis. We will even make arrangements to come to the hospital as early as the day of birth of the child. Once your DNA sample has been collected it is sent to the lab for processing.  The collection process takes less than 30 minutes, including any paperwork that needs to be sent with your DNA sample.

DNA Lady will make arrangements for all parties' samples to be collected in the place that is most convenient to them. All DNA test samples are coordinated by your assigned case manager if they are collected in different locations.

After your DNA samples are collected and the test fee has been paid in full, it typically takes three to five business days to report the DNA test results back to you. Next-day service is also available for an additional cost.

The report we provide from our Legally-Admissible DNA Test is evidence that proves or disproves paternity if sample collections are performed using the chain-of-custody process. If your DNA sample is not collected by a disinterested third party (the Chain of Custody process) then the DNA test results cannot be used as evidence in court.

Yes you can if the mother is between 10 and 24 weeks pregnant. An OB-GYN can collect a DNA sample from the developing child through either chorionic villi sampling (10-13 weeks) or amniocentesis (14-24 weeks). The baby's prenatal sample can then compared against the mother's and alleged father's DNA samples which are collected using the buccal (cheek) swabbing method. There will be additional fee involved in the collection of the baby's DNA sample and you need to check with your doctor regarding this additional fee.

Custody Process for legal DNA paternity testing

The chain of custody process is what makes the paternity test results legally defensible in courts and other government agencies.

DNA Lady strictly adheres to the Chain of Custody. Legal DNA test results are used for legal purposes such as child custody, child support, immigration, Social Security benefit claims, inheritance claims, and for other situations like Native American tribal enrollment.

When you come to the DNA sample collection appointment you will be need to do the following in order to meet the Chain of Custody requirements:

• Present government-issued identification for adults being tested
• Present identification for minors such as a birth certificate or social security card
• You will be photographed and fingerprinted
• You must complete a Client Identification and Consent Form (the minor's consent form should be signed by the child's legal guardian)

Please make sure that adults have the required government-issued identification and that you remember to bring a birth certificate or social security card for your minor child.

There are three main points in a chain of custody process:

• The tested parties are properly identified when their samples are collected. (Their government-issued IDs are verified and photocopied, and the individuals are photographed and thumbprinted.) 
• The samples are collected by a neutral third party-someone who has no personal interest in the outcome of the test (e.g., a hospital, clinic, or laboratory staff person). 
• The samples are tamper-taped, securely packaged at the collection site, and carefully inspected upon receipt for any evidence of tampering. 

When these three requirements are satisfied and documented, the paternity test results are legally defensible. This means that you can use them for legal purposes like child custody, child support, immigration and Native American tribal enrollment.

DNA Lady and You

The DNA lady has been providing DNA Tests in New Jersey for a number of years.  You will find that I am a good listener and will educate you on the best tests available for your circumstances.  I believe that every child has the right to now know their biological parents, if the child chooses and if in the process there would be no harm to anyone. 

We have an extensive network of DNA sample collection locations. When you contact us a dedicated case manager will schedule a local appointment that is convenient for all of the tested parties. We will schedule your DNA sample collection appointment at a time and place that works best for you.

When you arrive at your appointment your identification will be verifed and photocopied by the sample collector. You will also have your photograph and thumbprint taken and you will need to sign a consent form for the DNA test. These three elements are required by the chain of custody process in order to make your DNA test results legally defensible.

The DNA sample collector will collect your DNA samples using buccal swabs.  These are cotton-like swabs that he or she will rub against the inside of your cheek to "collect" loose cheek cells. The collector will then send all the DNA samples and paperwork directly to our laboratory.

You may pay for your DNA test with cash, a personal check, cashier's check, money order or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express).  DNA test results are not issued until the test fee has been paid in full.  We will work with you on a payment plan that you can afford to make.