DNA Clinics News

DNA Paternity Testing

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:54:50 +0100

Paternity testing is used to establish the biological father of an individual. During a DNA Paternity test, 16 genetic locations are analysed in total. A person possesses two alleles at each location. The alleles are identified by a number. These are inherited from the parents at conception. One comes from the mother and one comes from the father. Therefore when the DNA profiles of biological parents are laid out together, one of the child’s alleles will match up with an allele from the mother’s sample and the other should match up with an allele from the father’s sample. If these alleles match at all locations analysed, a person is included as the biological father of the child because it proves they have passed these genetic markers to the child at conception. Where there is no match, the person is excluded as a biological father. This is based on the fact that it is only possible to pass on to your offspring, the alleles which you possess in your own DNA profile.

BioClinics handled a case where a gentleman from Liverpool had been contacted by non-identical twins who believed he may be their father. After meeting the two sisters he decided wanted to know for definite it the relationship existed and contacted BioClinics to order a DNA Home Testing Kit. We dispatched the Kit to his home address and he collected the DNA samples from himself and the two adult sisters. The samples were returned to us and submitted to our laboratory for processing and after 7 working days the results of the test were given to the gentleman over the phone and the results report sent to him by post. The test result was 0% probability of paternity. This client was very happy with the service we provided and was glad to have a conclusive answer for his own peace of mind.

Three-parent IVF stops defective mitochondrial DNA

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:22:05 +0000

The purpose of three-parent IVF is to stop the transmission of defective mitochondrial DNA from mothers to their babies.

Children born after the procedures would posses DNA from their parents plus mitochondrial DNA from a woman donor.

Mitochondria are rod-shaped power plants in the bodies of cells that supply energy.
They contain their own DNA, which is only passed down the maternal line.

Faulty mitochondrial genes can lead to a wide range of serious disorders including heart malfunction, kidney and liver disease, stroke, dementia, and blindness, as well as premature death.

Around 6,000 adults in the UK are believed to be affected by mitochondrial diseases.

DNA of extinct frog revived

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:28:20 +0000

A team of scientists has revived and reactivated the genome of an extinct Australian frog.

They used sophisticated cloning technology to implant a “dead” cell nucleus into a fresh egg from another frog species.

The bizarre gastric-brooding frog, Rheobatrachus silus – which uniquely swallowed its eggs, brooded its young in its stomach and gave birth through its mouth - became extinct in 1983.

But the Lazarus Project team has been able to recover cell nuclei from tissues collected in the 1970s and kept for 40 years in a conventional deep freezer. The “de-extinction” project aims to bring the frog back to life.

In repeated experiments over five years, the researchers used a laboratory technique known as somatic cell nuclear transfer.

They took fresh donor eggs from the distantly related Great Barred Frog, Mixophyes fasciolatus, inactivated the egg nuclei and replaced them with dead nuclei from the extinct frog.

Some of the eggs spontaneously began to divide and grow to early embryo stage – a tiny ball of many living cells.

Although none of the embryos survived beyond a few days, genetic tests confirmed that the dividing cells contain the genetic material from the extinct frog.

“We are watching Lazarus arise from the dead, step by exciting step,” the leader of the Lazarus Project team, Professor Mike Archer, of the University of New South Wales, in Sydney said.

“We’ve reactivated dead cells into living ones and revived the extinct frog’s genome in the process. Now we have fresh cryo-preserved cells of the extinct frog to use in future cloning experiments,” he said.

On-Site Drug and Alcohol Testing

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:59:18 +0000

The BioClinics are an established and trusted Drug Testing Company. We carry out thousands of tests each year throughout the UK and Ireland, providing legally defensible and cost effective drug testing programs to companies within a vast number of industries. The BioClinics are unique within the drug and alcohol testing sector. Our vast network of drug clinic facilities provide local sample collection. While our nationwide team of mobile professionals can offer further choice and convenience by supplying ‘on site’ or ‘at home’ sample collection services to further meet the individual needs of our clients.

Many companies now require employees to be drug tested prior to starting work and throughout their continuous employment. Implementing an effective drug and alcohol testing program within your company demonstrates best practice, both to your own customers and to your employees as part of your duty of care to them. Drug and alcohol testing programs are also held in high regard by Insurance Companies and can have positive effects on your premiums. Why? – because it is proven, that drug and alcohol testing produces a safer and healthier workforce with less accidents, less sick days and higher production levels.

All testing programs are designed to the specific needs of the company and BioClinics will manage all aspects of the testing program. This includes liaising directly with sub contractors, individual work sites, and potential employees, in order to save our clients time and money. This test management is performed at no additional cost and is backed by our commitment to customer service. Our team of Clinical Advisors are always happy to help.

Laboratory Accreditation

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:22:55 +0000

BioClinics are committed to the highest standards of quality and our laboratories are accredited by The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to the International Standard ISO 17025 for DNA analysis, forensic analysis of hair tissue and all human bodily fluids for the detection and quantification of alcohol and drugs of abuse. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service is a full member and MRA Signatory to the ILAC arrangement. ILAC – The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation – is an international cooperation of laboratory and inspection accreditation bodies. Our laboratories are also accredited by The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to carry out parentage tests directed by the civil courts in England and Wales under Section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969.

Individual DNA Profiling

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:23:42 +0000

Individual DNA Profiling is used to generate a DNA profile for an individual. This profile will be unique to the individual and can be used for various legal identification purposes. Only identical twins share the same DNA profile.

DNA is collected from the client using mouth swabs. The swab is rubbed on the inside of the cheek, collecting skin cells. The DNA is then extracted from these cells and analysed. The analysis identifies the alleles (alternating form of DNA) at sixteen genetic locations along the DNA molecule. There are two alleles at each of the locations analysed. They are each identified by a number.

Clients are supplied with a copy of their DNA profile and an electronic version will be stored in the laboratories secure database. The profile can be used for identification or for comparison in the case of claims of paternity or other biological relationships.

BioClinics provides this service to a wide range of individuals and organisations such as owners of large estates – a legal profile stored with a solicitor can be used for comparison if required e.g. a claim to the estate following the death of the owner. Insurance companies – to confirm the identity of clients. Executives involved in high risk positions either in the UK or abroad.

Hair Analysis Alcohol Testing

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:17:03 +0000

Hair Analysis Alcohol Testing looks for direct products of ethanol metabolism. The main part of alcohol is oxidized in the human body. This means it is released as water and carbon dioxide. One part of the alcohol reacts with fatty acids to produce esters (FAEEs). Along with the FAEEs, another metabolite Ethylglucurinide (EtG) is formed in the body by glucuronidation.

As the hair grows, it absorbs these special markers into its structure. While FAEE gets into the hair mainly by diffusion from an external sebum layer, EtG markers are formed almost exclusively in the liver and then deposited into hair mainly from sweat. The more markers there are the more alcohol has been consumed. Due to the way the markers are absorbed by the hair, they are deposited along the shaft and not just at the point of growth. This differs from other drugs that entre the hair shaft via the blood supply. Due to this timeline of alcohol consumption cannot be given by segmenting the hair, the way it can be with other drugs of abuse.

What makes this method of alcohol testing and analysis revolutionary is that Hair Strand testing gives a history going back months if required. No other method can do this. For example, testing using blood only provides results covering a period no longer than one month.

Markers for alcohol are present in all hair including those of teetotallers, however these traces are products of the environment. Simply being in a pub is enough for traces of ethanol to find their way into the hair. This means that complete abstinence cannot always be established by means of these tests because research has shown that even those who have not consumed alcoholic drinks can test positive for both EtG and FAEEs.

However the concentration level of the markers found in the hair of the teetotallers or social/moderate drinkers is significantly decreased when compared to the hair samples of the individuals with excessive alcohol intake. In addition, these hair tests have been designed to establish a pattern of drinking over a period of time and have not been designed to test for a single episode of drinking. The concentration of EtG or FAEEs markers present in the hair sample is averaged for the whole period tested.

Home Test Kits.

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:51:06 +0000

BioClinics do Home Testing Kits that can be ordered from the internet. Every so often we give a reminder email to the few that haven’t sent there kits back. In these emails we make sure that everything is ok with the kit and that all the test participants feel alright with everything. From this email the clients can either message back or call. BioClinics recently dealt with a case where the woman whom received the email emailed back with questions and saying that she would be sending it soon, she also informed me that she was not one of the test participants but on of their parents. Once we received this email we replied with answers to all her questions and informing her correct things to do being the mother of a test participant. Once she had collected the samples she emailed us and asked if it would be alright if she scanned the paper work through to be checked before sending the test back. This we did and everything was correct we also let her know to sign the third party form so to be able to access information about the test while at the lab. The woman emailed back the next day saying she had sent the kit to us and that she was very thankful for all our help during the process of the test.

Individual DNA Profiling.

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:33:19 +0000

The Individual DNA Profiling is used to generate a DNA profile for the individual involved. This profile will be unique to the individual and can be used for various legal identification reasons.

DNA is collected from the client using mouth swabs. The swab is rubbed on the inside of the cheek, this collects the skin cells. When at the lab the DNA is extracted from these cells and analysed.

The analysis identifies the alleles (alternating form of DNA) at 16 genetic locations along the DNA molecule. There are two alleles at each of the locations analysed. They are each identified by a number.

The profile is unique to the person tested. Only identical twins share the same DNA profile.

The Clients are supplied with a copy of their DNA profile and an electronic version will be stored in the laboratories secure database.

The profile can be used for identification purposes, or for comparison in the case of claims of paternity or other biological relationship.

This is a service that can be used by a wide range of individuals and/or organisations:

1. Owners of large estates, a Legal profile stored with a solicitor can be a source for comparison if required (for someone trying to claim the estate after the owner’s death).

2. Insurance companies, to confirm the identity of clients.

3. Executives/workers involved in high risk positions either in the UK or abroad.

BioClinics have dealt with a case in which, a client was going to work abroad, and was quiet wealthy so they wanted to have a DNA profile done before they went away. This was so that if anything happened to them someone would be able to identify their body and there wealth would go to the right people. This is just one example of how we have helped people with our Individual Profile Analysis.

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Thu, 22 Nov 2012 15:57:55 +0000

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Hair Drug Testing.

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:31:00 +0000

Hair Drug Testing is a revolutionary method of testing for drugs. Hair Analysis not only determines the presence of drugs in the system, but can also provide an accurate historical record of substance misuse. This helps determine the difference between a one off user and a chronic abuser. Bleaches and external contaminants (i.e. Cannabis Smoke) have been known to have an impact on results.

Head Hair

The standard for this hair test is 3cm length of hair cut from the scalp, this tests for 3 months history of the donor’s drug use. More hair will provide a longer history (minimum 1cm is required for hair testing)

Body Hair

If head hair isn’t available, body hair can be tested, this includes; Pubic and Underarm hair. Body hair grows at different rates to head hair (which means it cannot be shortened or segmented).

Segmentation

ONLY HEAD HAIR CAN BE SEGMENTED.

For an average person each head hair grows approximately 1cm per month.

-If 3cm length of hair is tested as a single segment of hair, the results will show whether they have abused drugs at all in the past 3 months (90 days).

-If 3cm length of hair is cut into three 1cm segments, each segment can be tested for drugs separately, which will provide a result that will show weather the donor took the drugs in each month and if they did in 1 month but not in the other 2 months it will show that.

The second option is a more accurate reflection of the donor’s abuse, which families often use to prove abstinence.

BioClinics have dealt with a case in which the Mother was taking the Father of her child to court to prove he wasn’t on drugs anymore so that he could see his children again as he had not been allowed visitation. He called us so we offered him one of our Hair Tests; 6cm segmentation to get a more accurate picture into his drug history for the courts. We arranged him an appointment at our closest pharmacy to him and he went along and had his hair sample collected. The samples were then sent to the laboratory and tested in the segments he had asked for, and after 5-7 Working days we got his result back, and phoned him immediately with his result and how he wanted to receive it; via post, or email. This is one way we made someone very happy using one of our Drug Tests, as he got to see his children again after so long.

Urine Drug and Alcohol Testing

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 09:57:00 +0000

BioClinics are at the fore-front of the DNA, Drug, and Alcohol Testing. Our testing laboratories are fully accredited and located within the UK. One drug test we offer for example is our Laboratory Screen and Confirmation Service. We highly recommend this for all urine testing purposes.

This service tests for a set panel of 11 drug groups, these are:

Alcohol

Amphetamine

Methamphetamine

Ecstasy

Cannabis

Cocaine

Methadone

Heroin

Propoxyphene

Benzodiazepines (including Diazepam, Temazepam etc)

Opiates (includes Morphine etc)

Test Participants are legally identified and their samples are collected, sealed and barcoded to strict chain of custody protocols. The samples are sent to the lab where the initial screening is performed. This lab grade screening test is highly accurate. At this point laboratory reports are generated for all samples that test negative. These reports are usually available the day following the sample collection. Any samples that test non-negative are immediately entered into the confirmation process. These confirmation tests will identifiy the exact substance present and the quantity of the substance. A full laboratory report is then issued detailing the findings.

A company contacted BioClinics with a request for a Drug and Alcohol Test for an employee. We created an order quotation based on their needs and once they accepted the quotation, a sample collection appointment was arranged and an order confirmation was created. The employee attended their appointment and after the laboratory processing the results report was released to the company. This is one way in how BioClinics can help companies to gain clarity.

Our Laboratory Screen and Confirmation Service is available from £145 + VAT and includes:

Arrangement Fees

Sample Collection

Dedicated case manager with telephone support

Laboratory Screening and any Confirmation Tests required

A full Laboratory Results Report

Other testing companies will charge additional fees for the above.

The Y-Chromosome Test

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:51:24 +0000

The Y-Chromosome test is used to establish weather two or more individuals come from the same paternal line. Women cannot take part in this test, as they do not have a Y-chromosome. A chromosome is basically DNA that is coiled up very tightly. The X and Y chromosomes determine a child’s sex. Women have two X chromosomes and Men have one X and one Y chromosome. At birth a female receives either copy of her mother’s X chromosome and her father’s X chromosome, where as men receive again a copy of either of their mother X chromosomes but they receive the one and only Y-chromosome pasted down in there bio-logical fathers paternal line. The Y-chromosome test analysis 12 genetic locations on the DNA strand. The males in a paternal line should produce a DNA profile that matches at all locations tested.

BioClinics have dealt with a case in which, a wealthy man had died and he left a lot of money. He had a brother, whom was still alive, and five children four men and 1 woman. So as we can’t Y-chromosome test women we decided to do the Y-chromosome on the 4 males and then sibling test the males that test positive with the female.

This is one example of the Y-chromosome test has helped a family greatly, only one of the men wasn’t his child.

Three parent embryos

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:29:23 +0100

Eggs containing DNA from two women were fertilised and grown into healthy embryos in a lab experiment by researchers from Oregon Health & Science University in the US.

The technique is designed for women who have mutations in tiny structures known as mitochondria, which can result in a range of devastating conditions including muscular dystrophy.

It involves taking chromosomes from the mother’s egg, which carry 99.8 per cent of her DNA, and placing them in a donor egg which has healthy mitochondria but has had its own chromosomes removed.

The eggs were fertilised by sperm and almost half developed into healthy embryos. The resulting children would have inherited 99.8 per cent of their DNA from their parents, but also a tiny fraction from the donor.

Writing in the Nature journal, the researchers reported that half of the embryos developed abnormally, but identified improvements in their technique which could improve its success rate.

DNA Maternity Testing

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:06:48 +0100

Maternity tests are used to establish the biological mother of an individual. During a DNA Maternity Test 16 genetic locations are analysed in total, a person possesses two of the many possible alleles at each location, and the alleles are identified by numbers. At conception one allele is inherited from the mother and one from the father, so when the DNA profile of a biological mother is laid out next to their child’s, one of the child’s alleles will match up with a number from the mother’s sample at each location analysed. If these alleles match at all locations analysed it proves a person to be the biological mother, because they have passed these genetic markers to the child at conception. Locations where there is no match will exclude a person as the biological mother, this is because it is only possible to pass on to your offspring the alleles which you possess in your own DNA profile.

A result of 99.9999% means that a person is at least 1 million times more likely to be the biological parent of the child tested than an unrelated person from the same ethnic group. A result of 0% means there is a 0% chance that the person tested is the biological parent of the child.

Bio Clinics handled a case where a woman from Zimbabwe was tracking down her daughter who she had been separated from during the war. A potential daughter was tracked down and we carried out a DNA Maternity Test which gave a result of 0% probability of biological maternity. When a second potential daughter was tracked down, we again carried out a DNA Maternity Test which gave a result of 99.9999% probability of biological maternity. This is just one example of a scenario where Maternity Testing has helped someone greatly.

Pricing for a DNA Maternity Test is £235 + VAT for a Peace of Mind test, or £360 + VAT for our Legal Test Service. This price is for one potential mother and one child. The cost of the test also includes: Arrangement fees, sample collection, and all required reports and correspondence.

Hair Drug Test

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:11:02 +0100

There are two types of hair drug tests we do;

The Specific Drug Analysis, in with there is a set of drugs and you can pick what you want to be tested for. You can choose from; Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Benzodiazepines, Cannabis, Cocaine, Methadone, Mephedrone, Ecstasy, Opiates and Ketamine.

Also The Multi panel Drug Analysis, in which there is a set six drugs that we test for. This tests for; Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Cannabis, Cocaine, PCP and Opiates.

BioClinics have dealt with a drug case in which a male had strong reason to believe that his ex-partner had been drugging him. He called us for advice and we listed the types of test and what drugs they test for also the different reasons why we do the tests; Random testing for work, Pre-employment testing, Proof of Abstinence, also Personal reasons, which is what this particular client was after. He wanted the Multi panel Drug Test which is the one in which a set six drugs that are tested for, because he didn’t know what he’d been drugged with which would cancel out the Specific Drug Analysis. We booked the test and he went along to one of our Sample Collectors to have the Hair Sample taken. After that, the sample was sent to our lab and when we got the result he wanted to be phoned and sent a hard copy by post, when we phoned he was relived he found out exactly what he needed to know about his ex-partner. This is just one example of the ways we help people with our Drug Tests.

DNA – why is it trending?

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:47:50 +0100

A new “DNA encyclopedia” will map the function of the entire human genome, according tothis article in Wired, magazine, which is pretty interesting. Our Science correspondent, Steve Connor, examines the implications here. But a brief search on Twitter reveals the hashtag could also refer to the equally fascinating @dnafoundation, which stands for the Demi & Ashton Foundation, a charity which “works toward the elimination of sex slavery worldwide,” although it’s a little hazy on how it goes about it.

Mobile DNA Clinic a cause for concern

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 21:26:19 +0100

A mobile DNA testing facility that looks more like a motor home than a medical clinic is raising questions about the ramifications of quick and easy tests to determine paternity and other biological connections.

A 28-foot (8.5-meter) recreational vehicle cruising around New York City emblazoned with the question “Who’s Your Daddy?”, and offering on-the-spot DNA testing services starting at $299, has renewed those concerns.

The clinic, operated by a New York company called Health Street, started in 2010 but was revamped two months ago.

Passersby can hail the conspicuous brown and blue Winnebago to have DNA samples taken by a technician, packaged and sent to a laboratory in Ohio. Results are returned within three to five business days. Mandatory prescriptions for the tests from a customer’s physician can be faxed via the Internet to the RV.

While it is common for DNA testing distributors, companies who take the samples and send them to labs for analysis, to offer mobile collection services, Health Street appears to be the first to splash exactly what it does on the vehicle. “DNA TESTING” in bold red lettering is painted on the side.

Jared Rosenthal, who founded Health Street and drives the RV, recounts some of the people affected by his service: Two women who learned they were half-sisters, and a man whose suspicion that he might be the father of a friend’s daughter was confirmed.

“It’s just such a serious, fundamental question … who are your children? Who are your parents?” Rosenthal, 42 said.

Experts say there has been a steady increase in demand for such tests in the United States, reaching close to 500,000 a year, according to Michael Baird, director of DNA Diagnostics, a DNA testing laboratory, in part because the rate of births to unmarried women has also been increasing.

In 2010, at least 382,199 relationship tests were conducted in the United States, although the total is likely higher because some labs don’t submit data, according to the AABB, formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks, which accredits relationship testing facilities.

State child-support agencies make up the bulk of this demand, but experts said the number of people simply seeking answers, and the accompanying number of venues and ways to test for family relationships, have increased.

Susan Crockin, a lawyer who teaches at Georgetown Law Center and specializes in reproductive technology, said families should be careful of the reliability of the growing variety of relationship tests around the country, which range from at-home DNA kits that critics say can be subject to contamination, to on-site tests used to prove legal paternity.

“The underlying issues are obviously the quality of testing,” Crockin said.

Health Street’s DNA tests are analyzed in a lab certified by the AABB as well as the New York State Department of Health, Rosenthal said.

Health experts advise customers to only use labs accredited by AABB or distributors who use those labs, but there are no regulations on the outfits themselves. It is also not illegal to run a DNA testing laboratory that is not AABB-certified, Baird said.

Customers at Health Street must have a prescription from a doctor requesting the tests, Rosenthal said. Paternity testing is usually not covered by health insurance unless there is a medical need.

HEARTBREAK CASES

Aside from questions about reliability, experts said wider DNA testing raises concerns of whether families and individuals are psychologically prepared for the results.

“The bigger question is what do we do with this information. Why are we looking for it and what do we think it means?” Crockin said.

Crockin said individuals, especially children, should have the advice of trained genetic counsellors before and at the time of receiving the results of the DNA match.

Others say the promotion and presence of these DNA testing clinics and methods could devalue past family relationships when new biological connections are discovered.

“As this (industry) evolves it will create… a social expectation that, despite a past relationship between a social father and a child, DNA is everything,” said David Bishai, a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Typical customers at Health Street include men who are engaged and want to confirm offspring from a past relationship, returning soldiers seeking reassurance that they fathered newly-born children, and women inquiring about paternity on behalf of their children, Rosenthal said.

The door, however, is open to heartbreak, especially when men discover that somebody else fathered their children.

“If you’re really happy with the children in your life, don’t go near these things,” Bishai said.

Others are happy to receive the results.

Cornelia Heggs, 40, of Carrollton, Georgia, grew up knowing she had half-siblings from her absent father’s other marriages but never met them. She was contacted in 2009 by a half-sister who promised their mutual grandmother that she would find Heggs. The two women confirmed their relationship in June through a test at Health Street.

“We found each other and now we have the proof. There’s no more guessing. I’m just happy to know,” she said.

For others the information opens an uncertain chapter.

A 44-year-old married father of two in New York City confirmed in July through a DNA test at Health Street’s mobile clinic that the adult daughter of a woman he dated some 20 years ago was his.

The man, who declined to give his name for reasons of privacy, said he is slowly and cautiously building a relationship with his 20-year-old daughter, a student in Ohio.

“This issue is still raw and very sensitive,” he said.

“I will get to know my daughter … this is something I’m taking one day at a time.”

Unique and still the only DNA Clinical Service

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 21:50:01 +0100

For DNA testing, many of our competitors claim to have ‘walk in’ clinics around the UK. This is a false claim. It is a marketing gimmick that aims to persuade potential customers to order a cheap self-collection kit. The samples for these ‘cheap’ inferior tests are then sent out of the country for processing in non-accredited laboratories. This leaves the customer with no confidence that the test has been carried out effectively or ethically. With no support network in place, these disgruntled customers often call the BioClinics for advice.

BioClinics offer a ‘real’ and unrivaled sample collection network. Our service commitment is to offer convenience, provide confidence and deliver support.

Convenience

We advertise on a local level through clinics and pharmacies around the UK and Ireland. Clients can enquire or order a test through several websites, freephone numbers or direct to sample collectors where applicable. Our aim is to offer a sample collection service within 20 minutes drive from all the major cities in the UK and Ireland.

Confidence

A local presence, UK accredited laboratories and realistic prices for the test chosen, all of which leads to client confidence in the testing process.

Support

BioClinics offer counselling services at selected clinics around the country. This face to face support is unique in the industry. Our competitors offer a ‘faceless’ internet based service that compromises client confidence.

Paternity Testing

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 22:09:11 +0100

Paternity is of course often a matter of dispute between parents who Separate around the time a child is conceived but can easily be settled by a DNA test if both parties provide their consent to the testing. If not, then an application can be made to the court to determine whether or not it is in the interests of the child for the test to be undertaken. Where there is no agreement, it is not uncommon for one or other parent to take matters into their own hands and undertake a test secretly. Courts do not endorse such behaviour and indeed are critical of parents who act in such a way. Further, tests undertaken in such circumstances will often not be recognised for legal purposes and will have to be re-done in any event.

It is important that when undertaking such tests, whether by consent or by order of the court, a recognised and accredited DNA testing facility is used. Courts will only accept results from certain recognised providers and if a clear “chain of Child Custody” can be demonstrated in regard to the samples tested. The issue of paternity then of course gives rise to many other questions, including financial provision, parental rights and contact. Obtaining advice on Children Law early on can help everyone through what is often a very emotional and stressful time and avoid matters becoming unnecessarily complicated and protracted.