In order to provide grandparents and their families with the highest quality DNA testing services, we partner with only the best—the industry’s leaders in DNA testing. Below we describe our laboratory partners for legal and private (in-home) DNA testing.
Legal DNA Testing Laboratory
All of our legal DNA testing is performed by DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC), the world’s most trusted DNA laboratory. DDC performs 3 out of 4 private paternity tests in the U.S. and its reports are the most recognized by courts and other government agencies. Through our partnership with DDC, you will receive the following benefits:
- Legally admissible results
- Testing and analysis by the nation’s top DNA testing experts
- The most accurate testing using the unique and proprietary Dual Process™, in which all samples are tested twice
- The most powerful battery of tests for difficult and unusual family relationships and situations
DDC is the only lab to achieve 7 perfect ratings in quality inspections by accreditation bodies. Every person who needs a legal DNA test needs to look at a laboratory’s accreditations, which most courts and other government agencies require before they will consider the test results. Accreditations are many times the only reassurance you have that you are dealing with a quality laboratory that has been inspected and approved by industry regulators. There are six main accreditations that a DNA testing laboratory performing legal testing needs to have, and DDC is one of the few that has all of these:
American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). The AABB’s Relationship Testing Accreditation program is the gold standard for DNA paternity and family relationship testing laboratories and this accreditation is what most courts look for. DDC has been accredited by AABB since 1996.
National Forensic Science and Technology Center (NFSTC)/ISO 17025. NFSTC inspects U.S. laboratories for adherence to standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the DNA Advisory Board (established by the Director of the FBI).
College of American Pathologists (CAP). The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program is recognized by the federal government as being equal to or more stringent than the government’s own laboratory inspection program.
New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). The NYSDOH certification permits laboratories to perform DNA tests on cases originating from New York.
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). The CLIA accreditation issued by the U.S. Department of Health ensures laboratory results are timely, accurate, and reliable. DDC has been accredited by CLIA for over 8 years.
The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board. ASCLD/LAB–International is the most stringent accreditation program for forensic DNA laboratories. DDC is the first private DNA laboratory to achieve this accreditation. Only 10% of laboratories that take the ASCLD/LAB inspection pass this accreditation during their first try, and DDC is a member of this elite group.
Private (In-Home) DNA Testing Laboratory
All of our private DNA testing is performed by Beta Paternity, a sister company of DDC. Beta is the world’s premier home paternity testing service. Beta has provided high quality private paternity, grandparentage, and other family relationship testing to clients all over the world since 1996. At that time, Beta’s founders saw a growing need for a more convenient and private alternative to the standard, chain of custody paternity test. Their solution, DNA paternity testing using the Beta Self-Collection™ Kit, has allowed quality home paternity testing to be available to you and to thousands of clients each year. With the Beta Self-Collection™ Kit, you can easily and painlessly collect samples for a DNA test at your convenience.
Beta’s DNA paternity experts are among the top scientists in North America. Working with a specially trained support staff and the best equipment in the industry, they deliver the highest quality, most discreet and confidential home paternity testing services. As a DDC sister company, it shares all of DDC’s stringent laboratory procedures. Its strict safeguards, standard protocols, and the in-depth experience of Beta’s staff ensure that you receive the most accurate private (in-home) paternity testing results available in the industry.