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Contents 1 Why choose LGC to carry out my DNA paternity test? 2 Introduction to DNA paternity testing 3 Immigration DNA testing 4 How to organise a DNA paternity test A step by step summary of organising a paternity test 5 Having your sample taken What type of sample is required? How is the sample taken? Who takes the sample? Why does it have to be a doctor/nurse? Does everyone have to go to the same sampler (doctor) and/or at the same time? Does the mother of the child have to be tested? Who arranges the sampling appointments? Do I have to take anything with me to my sampling appointment? Why are my photographs required? 7 Obtaining results and case updates How long does the testing take? What will the testing report say? Can I find out how my case is progressing? 8 Considering the implications of a DNA paternity test 8 DNA test costs 9 Contacting us
Why choose LGC to carry out my DNA paternity test? Reliability LGC has been conducting paternity and relationship tests since 1989. Our paternity testing laboratory is accredited by the ministry of justice as a body that may carry out parentage testing directed by the courts in England & Wales under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969. We also comply with the UK Department of Health s published Voluntary Code of Practice and Guidance on Genetic Paternity Testing Services. Quality Our work is UKAS accredited to the quality standard BS EN ISO 17025, which ensures the quality of our work from an initial enquiry through to the reporting of our results. Confidentiality Our work is conducted in a secure environment and all aspects of your case will be treated in a confidential manner. Only those people who give samples in a case (or their nominated solicitors) are entitled to a copy of our report. All samples will be destroyed after two months from the date of our report and casework documentation will be securely held for one year, after which time it will be destroyed. About us Our testing is carried out in the UK in our own purpose-built laboratories and is performed by fully qualified scientific staff. Our work is conducted in a secure environment and all aspects of your case will be treated in a confidential manner. Tel: 020 8943 7000 www.lgcgroup.com/dnapaternitytesting 1
Introduction to Legal DNA paternity testing What is DNA? Everyone in the world is genetically different, except identical twins. What determines these differences is a substance known as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which is found in all cells of the body. DNA is a complex molecule, which carries the genetic information used by the body to determine our physical characteristics. We inherit half our DNA from our father and half from our mother. DNA profiling is the established method for determining family relationships. What is DNA paternity testing for legal cases? We analyse certain parts of the DNA from each person (mother, child and possible father) using STR (Short Tandem Repeat) profiling techniques. We are able to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, whether a person is the father of a child. DNA testing is the most accurate method available to prove paternity. How accurate is the DNA paternity test? DNA profiling testing is the most conclusive method available to prove paternity and allows proof of parentage at a level of certainty that is beyond reasonable doubt. Will a court accept the results of the test? Yes. The results of our paternity testing are admissible as evidence in UK Courts of Law, providing all procedures have been correctly followed. We can also prove other relationships such as: identical twins mother/brothers/sisters/grandparents family relationships in immigration matters. Paternity As each of us inherits half of our DNA from our father and half from our mother, the DNA profiling technique compares the DNA patterns from the possible (alleged) father, mother and child(ren) in order to establish the identity of a person s true father or mother or siblings.
Immigration DNA testing LGC offers DNA testing services to assist individuals who need to provide evidence of biological relationships for immigration purposes to satisfy the requirements of the UK Border Agency. Immigration testing may be any of the following: Paternity testing/ immigration paternity test Maternity testing Sibling testing Testing between relatives such as grandparentage testing and aunt/uncle DNA tests. How the process works 1. An immigration solicitor or private client registers a case with LGC and completed a registration form detailing the type of relationship to be established; the full names, dates of birth, and contact information of all parties involved in the case. 2. Once we have received your completed registration form, we will send all relevant paperwork and mouth swab taking kits to the relevant British Post overseas/gp s in the UK. If samples are taken abroad you should contact the relevant British Embassy to confirm that they are willing to take the mouth swab, once confirmed we will despatch the sampling kits and paperwork to them. Immigration DNA profiling is the established method for determining family relationships. 3. Donors are required to take three (3) passport sized recent photographs of themselves and appropriate ID documentation to the sampling appointment. 4. Once in receipt of all samples, it will take approximately 10 working days to complete our testing and generate our report. Tel: 020 8943 7000 www.lgcgroup.com/dnapaternitytesting 3
How to organise a DNA paternity test 1. Please contact us to request an information pack. This pack will contain all the information and documentation that you need. 2. Complete and return the registration form to LGC, together with payment (or if you are a solicitor representing a legally-aided person we will require legal aid certification). 3. We will email you advising of the procedures you need to follow to have your sample taken, together with a list of samplers (doctors) in your area who can take your sample. 4. Once you have telephoned and made an appointment with your chosen sampler (the mother should arrange an appointment for herself and each child to be tested), then you should inform us of this, giving us at least five days advance notice of the appointment and we will then send the necessary sampling kit(s) to the sampler. 5. When you go to the sampler to have your sample taken, you will need to take two full-faced, clear, passport-sized photographs of yourself with you. The mother of the child(ren) to be tested must also provide two photographs of each child. Please note that payment of the sampler s fee is not included in our fees and must be paid to the sampler at the time. 6. The sampler will return the samples to LGC. 7. Once we have received all samples, our testing will take approximately five working days. Our report (results) will then be sent by first class mail. The process
In order to comply with current legislation it is necessary for a medically qualified person (doctor or practice nurse) to take the samples and to complete the necessary paperwork Having your sample taken What type of sample is required? We will need a sample of cheek cells from the mother, child and possible father in order to extract the DNA for testing. This is a very simple process and a doctor or nurse (the sampler) will take the sample. Why does it have to be a doctor/nurse? In order to comply with current legislation it is necessary for a medically qualified person (doctor or their practice nurse) to take the samples and to complete the necessary paperwork. How is the sample taken? The sampler will gently rub a small swab (which looks like a small cotton bud on a stick) around the inside of your mouth. This procedure should be painless and not cause concern. He/she will then ask you to complete and sign some simple identification documentation. Does everyone have to go to the same sampler and/or at the same time? No, it is acceptable for different samplers to be used and for samples to be taken on different days. Please note, however, that we cannot start our testing until our laboratory has received all samples. Samples Who takes the sample? You can choose to ask your own GP or any other registered medical professional (doctor or nurse within a doctor s practice) to take the sample. Alternatively you can select a sampler in your local area from a list that we will send to you when you register your case with us. Please note that doctors on this list are not endorsed by LGC and their names and addresses are sent for your convenience only. Please note that the mother of a child under 16 should accompany that child to the sampling appointment. Does the mother of the child have to be tested? Yes, unless there is an exceptional reason for her not to participate. In any event, we will require the child s mother to give her consent for the tests to be carried out on the child if the child is under the age of 16 years. Tel: 020 8943 7000 www.lgcgroup.com/dnapaternitytesting 5
Who arranges the sampling appointments? The adults being tested (or their solicitors if they have one) should arrange the appointments directly with the samplers concerned. These appointments must be made at least five days in advance. This is because you must notify us so that we can send the necessary sampling kit(s) to your nominated sampler well in advance of your appointment. Do I have to take anything with me to my sampling appointment? Yes. You must remember to take two recent, full-faced, passport-sized photographs of yourself to the appointment. A mother must also take two photographs of each child as well as photographs of herself. These photographs must be produced, otherwise the sampler will not take the sample. Appointments Please note that when you make the appointment, you should ask how much the sampler will charge for taking the sample(s), as the sampler s fee is not included in the fees that we charge. It is the individual person s responsibility to pay the fee direct to the sampler at the time the sample(s) is taken. Photographs of each person to be tested are required for identification purposes. Please also ensure that you have sufficient money with you to pay the sampler for taking the sample(s). Why are my photographs required? Photographs of each person to be tested are required for identification purposes. When you go to have your sample taken, the sampler will sign the back of the photographs to confirm that they are a true likeness of the person sampled. These photographs and documentation completed by you and the sampler will be sent back to LGC with your sample.
Obtaining results and case updates How long does the testing take? We are normally able to complete our testing and submit a report approximately five working days from receipt of all samples, providing it is a standard paternity case (mother, child, alleged father). In more complex relationship testing, our testing will take longer. Very occasionally, it is necessary to repeat part of the scientific process, which may result in a slight delay in reporting. In all cases we endeavour to despatch results as soon as they are available. What will the testing report say? The results of our testing will indicate one of the following: That the man tested is at least 99.99% certain to be the father of the tested child compared to a random individual or That the man tested is not the father of the child. In the case of a sibling we will indicate whether or not the siblings tested are half or full siblings, and a statistical analysis is provided to show the likelihood of the relationship. For any other relationship testing, the relationship will be indicated in a similar fashion. Can I find out how my case is progressing? Yes. We can provide limited information over the telephone, providing you are one of the persons being tested. You will be required to quote your unique case identifier and be prepared to answer certain confidentiality questions. If you have a solicitor acting on your behalf, we will be pleased to speak to him/her concerning your case, providing we have been notified of their involvement in advance. The information given will be restricted to assisting you in completing documentation, sampling advice/arrangements, confirmation of sample receipt and estimated reporting time. Please note that under no circumstances will we give results of our testing over the telephone. Results Tel: 020 8943 7000 www.lgcgroup.com/dnapaternitytesting 7
Considering the implications of a DNA paternity test Before making a decision to go ahead with a DNA paternity test, it is important that you take time to consider very carefully whether such a test will be in your best interest and the best interests of the child(ren). You should consider taking advice from a solicitor, your family doctor or your local citizens advice bureau. DNA test costs Please refer to the price list enclosed with this brochure, or contact us on 020 8943 7000 to confirm our fees. Please note that samplers fees are not included in our prices. Considerations Contact information Our friendly and helpful Client Services Advisors are there to give confidential advice and assistance and are all experienced in dealing with the sensitive issues surrounding such testing. They are available between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday. LGC Diagnostics Department Queens Road Teddington Middlesex TW11 0LY UK Tel: 020 8943 7000 Fax: 020 8943 7381 Email: health.sciences@lgcgroup.com www.lgcgroup.com/dnapaternitytesting
It is important that you take time to consider very carefully whether such a test will be in your best interest and the best interests of the child(ren). Contact us Tel: 020 8943 7000 www.lgcgroup.com/dnapaternitytesting 9
Science for a safer world For more information about LGC our latest results, news, details of our products and services, please visit the Group s website at www.lgcgroup.com Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LY, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 7000 Fax: +44 (0)20 8943 2767 Email: health.sciences@lgcgroup.com www.lgcgroup.com Brazil Bulgaria China Czech Republic Finland France Germany Hungary Ireland India Italy Netherlands Poland Romania Russia South Africa Spain Sweden Turkey UAE United Kingdom USA No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any retrieval system, without the written permission of the copyright holder. LGC Limited, 2013. All rights reserved. 3765/LB/1113