How important is choosing the right DNA testing center?
A True Story: We have always stressed the importance of having DNA testing performed by an AABB Accredited facility. Now, after an incident we personally dealt with, we realize how important it actually is.
Summer 2011: An adult female contacts DNA Paternity Testing Centers inquiring about paternity testing. She says, “I need to have a legally binding paternity test done for myself and my father.” We schedule a paternity test via our Standard Option.
When the results came back, the probability of paternity was a 0%. When the results were given, we could tell the woman sounded upset. About 15 minutes later, she called us back. The woman was in shock and very upset. She explained that she had taken a paternity test in California a little over 3 years ago, prior to moving to Texas and the results indicated the gentleman was her biological father. We asked if she could recall what company she used and/or if she had a copy of the results. She explained the results were filed away in storage and she would try to find them. She explained the test was relatively inexpensive and the results of that test were not legally binding. However, the results sent to her were 99.99%. The only reason she contacted us was because they now needed a legally binding result for some underlying reason. We empathized with the woman, realizing she was in a tough situation.
The woman was interested in getting another test. We recommended she schedule our Expedited Option, which is performed by a different AABB Accredited laboratory than our Standard Option. We told her if the results for the Expedited Option were different than those of the Standard Option, the case would be investigated and she would not be charged. She agreed and the two of them went in for a second, legally binding paternity test with our company. Unfortunately for them, the result, again, came back as a 0%, indicating the gentleman was indeed not her biological father.
We produced the original legal documents for 2 separate paternity tests, both performed by 2 different AABB Accredited facilities. Clearly, the non-legal test they had used 3 plus years ago was inaccurate and they had been falsely led to believe they were father and daughter.
We are not saying that all non-legal tests are inaccurate. In fact, we offer a non-legal option ourselves. However, we are saying it is very important to research the testing facility you schedule testing with. Make certain the testing lab possesses the proper accreditations. Being accredited means the laboratory has passed vigorous testing and procedures verifying the integrity and validity of the entire process. When it comes to DNA testing, please verify the facility you are using provides testing performed by an AABB Accredited laboratory.
