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Forensic DNA
Profiling
Forensic DNA Relationship testing is often used in criminal situations such as rape or incest where there are products of conception.
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Risk
Screening
Some people have a high genetic predisposition to a disease whilst others might have a low one or might have no susceptibility at all.
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Agriculture/
Wildlife
The analytical techniques capable of providing DNA evidence to assist in conservation law enforcement have developed in parallel to human forensic genetics.
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Ancestry
Testing
When an STR value (the number of repeats) changes, this change is passed down to future generations.
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Vaccine
Manufacturing
Although the mRNA vaccine production process is straightforward, accuracy is required for the many steps in which DNA and RNA intermediates are manipulated.
Our laboratories are designed to facilitate excellent performance for all aspects of testing.
Environmental conditions are strictly controlled and continuously monitored using reliable CFR-compliant automated electronic systems. We have rigorous security measures in place. Our facility is monitored with an intrusion alarm and CCTV cameras. Entry to the laboratory areas is strictly controlled using a fingerprint access control locking system.
What makes us different
iMed has its own multifunctional, fully equipped molecular biotechnology laboratory:
We Offer Affordable
DNA Testing
Forensic science & DNA testing are highly technical processes requiring extreme accuracy, thoroughness, and documentation. When the two disciplines are combined, only a forensic DNA laboratory with expert molecular biology scientists, and critically refined processing techniques, supported by a quality management system, can provide the level of performance needed to assure quality DNA testing results that can withstand rigorous review.
How It Works
The first step is obtaining a mouth (buccal) swab. This will be taken by a medical health practitioner or a sample collector. When ordering a booking, we will put you in contact with one of our partners near you or arrange for a nurse to come to you for sample collection. We will provide a complete collection kit to ensure everything needed for peace of mind or legal testing purposes, including detailed instructions. We will make 100% sure that the sample pack reaches the laboratory without any tampering with confidentiality always protected for testing.
A mouth swab is needed from the alleged father and the child. The mother is not normally needed because we test for a high amount of DNA markers. However, adding the sample of the mother can help us have a stronger result as we are then able to clearly eliminate her share of genetic inheritance. Our Laboratory experts will examine the participants DNA to determine how much DNA the alleged father has in common with the child. Once this information has been analysed, our laboratory experts will be able to conclusively determine if the alleged father and child have enough matching DNA to have a biological connection.
The parties who requested the test will be sent the results. The results will be released to the documented contact person of the requested party. It will be the responsibility of the requested party’s contact person to thereafter release the results to the secondary parties as per agreement.
A nurse will be sent to you for testing
DNA test will be sent to our Lab
DNA will be taken to our Lab
DNA will be taken to our Lab
You will receive your test report
You will receive your test report
Qualification
Accredited Environment
Our tests are carried out in an ISO 17025 accredited environment.
Accredited Environment
STR Kits
We make use of STR kits that meets the guidelines for ISO 18385 certification with maximum commonality in markers to make more cross-border identifications.
STR Kits
SWGDAM Validated
Our test methods are validated as per SWGDAM (the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods) recommendations and guidelines.
SWGDAM Validated
AABB Standards
We also follow the AABB Standards for Relationship testing.
AABB Standards
Book A Test Now
Book a test now for fast, cost effective, secure, valid and reliable results for your peace of mind or to support your legal case.
Have Any Questions
A DNA paternity test is a conclusive scientific way to determine if a man is the true biological father of a child. DNA paternity testing is also often referred to simply as a DNA test, a paternity test or DNA testing. The same type of DNA testing can be used to establish other relationships such as maternity, sibling (brother or sister), uncle/aunt or grandparent relationships.
In most paternity tests that we deal with the mother of the child is known. Therefore, we are sometimes asked: what is the benefit of testing the mother when it is possible to obtain a conclusive result even with only the father’s sample? The answer: including the sample of the mother in a DNA paternity test (and other DNA tests) will strengthen the final result of that test.
Testing the mother is also very important in the case of DNA relationship tests such as for siblings, aunt/uncles and grandparents where the sample of the mother greatly increases the chance of obtaining a conclusive result.
A DNA paternity test compares 20 genetic markers of the alleged father to those of the child. If the alleged father is in fact the true biological father of the child, then all 20 genetic markers will match between the two profiles. If there are markers which do not match, then the alleged father will be excluded as the child’s paternal father. However, there are cases where a possible mutation may have occurred on one of the loci which may result in an inconclusive result. In such cases, the sample of the mother will assist to conclude the result as it will be able to confirm if the mutation is really a mutation or not.
In relationship DNA testing, the mother’s sample is extremely useful. For example, in the case of a full siblings’ test, the sample of the mother will allow for the elimination of part of the genetic data that has to be compared between the two siblings, thereby, leaving the genetic markers inherited from the biological father for a more straightforward comparison, hence making the result more accurate.
Peace of Mind test is designed for people who would like to know their paternity/maternity status. A DNA “Legal test” is an official DNA test used for legal purposes. Persons taking part in the test can be verified and chain of custody of the samples is intact. Paternity testing may be required where it is necessary to prove a relationship between alleged relatives, such as disputes over child custody, child support or estates claims. Formal identification and a specified chain of custody ensures the results of every Legal DNA paternity test are court admissible.
The chain of custody is a prescribed way for the samples to be collected in a legal test. This involves getting the test participants sampled by a neutral third party sampler who must be a witness to the test. This person must also declare that all samples have been collected from the correct people (those actually required to take part in the test). There is a strict process whereby all test participants are identified.
The samples must not have been in contact with any other person, animal, or biological matter.
The more organic matter from the tested person that the sample contains, the better the chances of the DNA extraction being successful.
The laboratory that will extract the DNA from your sample has cutting-edge scientific equipment and the experience necessary to maximize the chances of success for DNA extraction. Nevertheless, extracting DNA from a sample is not an operation whose success is 100% guaranteed.
The following are examples of possible causes of failure of DNA extraction:
• the DNA sample was in contact with a source of biological infection (other person, animals etc.);
• the sample contains too little DNA;
• the DNA sample is too old;
In the event of DNA extraction failure, we cannot not carry out the paternity test. In this case, a new sample may be requested.
If the child is a minor (younger than 18 years), the mother needs to be present to sign consent for testing for the minor child. If the child is older than 18 years, the mother need not be present.
If the mother is still alive but does not want to be present for the test, an affidavit is required explaining why she is not present. The affidavit must be brought with the other parties.
If the mother is deceased, then the death certificate of the mother must be brought with the other parties and a legal guardian needs to be present to sign consent for testing for the minor child.
As the test is designed to test for paternal relationships, the alleged father’s DNA is required to compare against the child’s DNA.
However, if the alleged father is deceased, there are other family members we can be use in order to determine whether the child is of the same paternal line as the tested family member.
Each set of tubes that are used in the sample collection process are bar coded to ensure correct identification. Further, the bar codes which are allocated to each individual family are unique number sets. Lastly, a tamper evident security bag and tube container is provided so that samples can be safely sent to the laboratory for analysis.
No, paternity testing is not invasive. The most common method of collecting DNA samples is through a cheek swab, which is painless and non-invasive.
There are two possible outcomes in a DNA paternity test
1. Exclusion. – The person tested is NOT the biological parent. A paternity exclusion indicates that the tested man is not the true biological father of the child. A report which states a paternity exclusion will show a minimum of two exclusions (i.e. the alleles do not match) at two different genetic markers. When a paternity exclusion is indicated, the probability of paternity is 0%.
2. Inclusion. – The person tested IS ACCEPTED as the biological parent and the report says NOT EXCLUDED. If the report states that the tested man is not excluded as the biological father of the tested child, a combined paternity index (CPI) of greater than 1000 is indicated. A CPI greater than 1000 indicates that the probability of paternity is greater than 99.9%. The CPI number shows the number of individuals in the combined population that would have to be tested who may have a profile the same as the tested person.
We test 21 markers and then calculate the result to see if the alleged father is excluded or not excluded as being the father. When there is a match in all 21 markers we conclude there is a very high (greater than 99.9999%) chance of the alleged father being the father. We do this by calculating a Probability of Paternity. This is the percentage likelihood that a man with the alleles of the alleged father is the biological parent of the child, as compared to an untested, unrelated man.
A Combined Paternity Index is also calculated, which is the likelihood that the man tested is the biological father of this child compared to a person chosen at random from a validated population. Paternity is usually accepted if this number is greater than 1000.
