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