Protect yourself from Fake DNA Testing in Maryland
Fake DNA testing or inaccurate DNA Testing can be caused by several reasons.
- The mismanagement of the collection process
- Untrained staff who conduct the test
- Deliberate manipulation of the DNA results. DNA Results can be difficult to understand, and falsifying results can go unnoticed.
- Laboratory collection sites that are not AABB certified
- Errors in Collection causing contamination of the results and the sample.
It is imperative for these reasons that the laboratory a person chooses for DNA testing is an AABB certified laboratory like SmarTest Labs. We use a strict Chain of Custody in our collection process. Our sample collectors are trained in the collection process, and the packaging and handling of the samples are cautiously managed.
Why is a DNA sample managed important?
DNA sample collection and processing is important as it impacts people’s lives and decisions they make. Most DNA results are used in court of law (legal DNA) or for personal peace of mind (Informational DNA) to provide individuals with information that helps them make well informed decisions.
Legal DNA – This is crucial in child custody cases, Immigration and forensic analysis. If there is inaccuracy in these, it impacts the decisions courts make impacting cases that are driven by DNA evidence.
Information DNA – This is just as important as a legal DNA test as it provides individuals peace of mind, sets individuals on a right course and takes away anxiety and speculation in relationships. It also helps with people looking to find their ancestry, determine if individuals are related and bringing closure to unknow and speculative family relations.
Fake DNA Testing – The Red Flags to Watch Out For
-
Common Scams in DNA Testing
Promises of free and instant results
Most DNA samples are not instant. Results are only obtained after rigorous testing of the sample in a scientific based laboratory. The process of evaluation involves the analysis of the sample and providing DNA markers called alleles. This process of testing every loci is not an instant process and cannot provide results immediately. The exception to this could be a special order from a court for a rush for under 2 days. The rule of thumb is that most results are provided after 48 hours.
Lack of Transparency in Pricing
If a laboratory is unclear on the pricing of their DNA tests, you should ask more questions. DNA is often not discounted as it is a complex testing process and requires close scientific management. If you find a laboratory that is offering discounts in their DNA testing on a continuous basis, ask more questions.
Unverified or suspicious websites and labs
It is important to verify that the laboratory that is conducting the test is credentialed to conduct the test. This would mean that the person conducting the test is trained to collect the samples. This is even more important if it is a legal DNA test. Further the laboratory must be AABB certified to be able to conduct the test.
If the laboratory cannot answer these 2 fundamental questions, it is best to look for alternative DNA testing facilities.
Look at the web sites to see if the laboratory lists that they are AABB certified. Also verify if the laboratory has a registered website. Most companies that have business websites, must hold a business license and certifications to be able to conduct business.
-
Risks of Falling for Fake DNA Testing
Inaccurate results causing emotional, legal, or financial harm.
Inaccuracies in DNA test result have significant impacts on people’s lives, decisions and course of action they take.
In a legal issue, mistakes can cause the court system to make a decision that is not accurate. Examples are in child custody cases where a parent could be denied custody of a child due to inaccurate DNA results or a parent that is not fit as a guardian is given custody causing other impacts to the child. These cases using DNA evidence must be carefully conducted to provide accurate results.
In Immigration cases, if the DNA results do not show a relationship, it could deprive a family of a relationship that should have been possible if the DNA results were accurately conducted. The same applies for results that should not have provided the immigration system to provide migration of a relative from a different country.
These are critical decisions to avoid emotional stress and trauma to individuals, avoiding financial impacts and further litigation and harm.
At SmarTest Labs, an AABB certified laboratory we are attentive to the impacts to people’s lives. We provide one on one support to individuals to make the right decisions and choice of the DNA needs. We treat each person like it is our family member as we are cognizant of the DNA outcomes.
Use of your data without consent.
As we are all aware, your data is sometimes compromised. DNA data should not be share with anyone unless the individuals authorize the use of the DNA results. DNA tests are conduct for specific purposes. If there is a forensic reason for sharing results, the courts must issue an order that the results be shared.
Information DNA results cannot be share with others unless approved by the donor.
-
How to Spot Fake Providers
There are many ways to validate that a laboratory is certified and credible to conduct DNA tests.
The results of a DNA test can be difficult to understand. If results are not credible and your gut tells you there are sign and doubts, |Smartest Labs can assist you with verifying the results that you have obtained elsewhere.
Alleles Report (Sample of a Positive Test is shown below)
The report should have matching alleles that line up. Each Loci should have matching alleles for DNA matching to occur. Parents provide one allele from the father and one from the mother when a child is born.
Below is a sample report. The items in ‘red’ show the matching alleles and DNA markers. This shows that the DNA test is a positive test indicating that the father is the father of the child. Reports should be well documented, concise and clear.
Example of Chain of Custody – AABB Certified
SAMPLE DNA REPORT
Lab ID: 123435
Case ID: 12345X
| STR Locus | Child
(A Jane Doe) (Date of Test) (Race of Donor)
|
Alleged Father
(John Doe) (Date of Test) (Race of Donor)
|
| Amylogenic | X | XY |
| D351358 | 12 | 12 |
| D151656 | 13 16.2 | 13 |
| D2S441 | 12 | 12 6 |
| D10S1248 | 7 14 | 7 14 |
| D13S317 | 5 6 | 4 6 |
| Penta E | 7 8 | 5 8 |
| D16S39 | 6 7 | 5 7 |
| D18551 | 12 | 12 |
| D2S1338 | 18 | 18 |
| CSF1PO | 9 | 9 |
| Penta D | 11 9.2 | 11 9.2 |
| TH01 | 16 22 | 13 22 |
| vWA | 16 17 | 17 22.1 |
| D21511 | 16 22 | 22 13 |
| D7S820 | 12 23.1 | 23.1 30 |
| D5S818 | 12 14 | 14 23 |
| TPOX | 12 22 | 12 14 |
| D851179 | 7 11 | 11 23 |
| D19S433 | 15 14 | 15 23.5 |
| FGA | 23 | 12 23 |
| D22S1045 | 12 16 | 16 13 |
Note: Items in red indicate matches showing positive paternity relation
Gender Comparison
Each report should have a comparison between one gender parent and not the same gender. Labs do not compare 2 fathers and two mothers in the same report.
Results Presentation
No credible lab will provide you a 100% accuracy of a test. Well done tests provide a Proportion of Potential Contributors (CPI) of 99.9999% accurate never 100%. A well-established lab will provide either 99.999% results or 0% result.
Language in report
Watch for language on the report. A good report for e.g. in a positive case of paternity will use language such as “the alleged father is not excluded as the biological father of the tested child” not this is father of the child.” Language is industry standard in how it is presented and the reverse language if the father is not the father of the child.
AABB Accreditation
Before you conduct the test ask the laboratory if the laboratory is AABB certified.
Smartestlabs in Maryland’s Most Trusted DNA Testing Providers
Types of DNA Testing Services Available in Maryland
-
Legal Paternity Testing
Reliable results for child custody, support, and legal disputes. Legal Paternity Tests done under strict chain of control provides reliable results and must be the process adopted for legal cases. AABB accreditation is required for a Legal DNA Test.
-
Prenatal DNA Testing
Prenatal DNA Test also known as Non-Invasive Pre-Natal DNA (NIPP) test can be done after a woman is 7 weeks along in her pregnancy. NIPP tests are most often considered a legal DNA test. This process provides both parents peace of mind on who the potential father of the unborn child is. Safe, non-invasive testing options to confirm paternity during pregnancy.
-
Immigration DNA Testing
Required testing for family reunification or U.S. immigration purposes. This must be conducted by an AABB accredited laboratory as it is a legal DNA test.
-
Ancestry and Heritage Testing
Explore genetic roots and family heritage through detailed DNA analysis. This is a DNA test that could become a legal test but is often conducted for individuals to find their ‘root’ and possibility relationships that might have been lost over the years. Tracing ethnicity has become a very common reason to use DNA testing.
Why Accreditation Matters in DNA Testing
What does it mean to be AABB accredited?
Association for the advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB)is an internation association that defines rules in medicine and biotherapies. Organization accredited as AABB are committed to quality and safety while continuously improving organization operations.
AABB accreditation provides patients and donors to have thrust in your facility’s services, collecting process, processing, testing and distribution of samples, results and communication. Due to rigorous standards the accreditation minimizes outcome variability and errors and provides the highest level of quality and safety outcomes.
By managing risk, the level of litigation, cost, impacts on the public is reduced significantly. AABB assessors are trained to recognize risks and violations that can impact donors.
These controls provide reliable outcome and high-quality results that significantly increase accuracy of outcomes. Court systems will require that legal DNA tests be conducted by an AABB certified laboratory for things like custody, immigration and forensic requirements.
Recent Comments