There are two types of DNA testing done today, one of them is chain of custody DNA testing, or Legal DNA Testing, and other can be described as the Non- Chain of Custody DNA test or in home DNA testing which can be done today. There are many differences between the both DNA test. Chain of custody DNA testing is recognized by both by the Accreditation Organization AABB and the legal evidence is admitted by the civil court in the legal cases. But the non-chain of custody DNA testing or in-home DNA testing is not recognized by the accreditation organization AABB, neither the medical evidence is recognized by the civil court in legal cases. But there are many other differences also.
Differences between Chain of custody DNA testing and Non-Chain of custody DNA testing –
- The chain of custody DNA testing is used primarily for establishing the close relationships in the court of law whereas the non-chain or home DNA test is done for satisfying curiosity, personal information, or just settling personal disputes that will not end up in a courtroom.
- The procedure of the chain of custody has established for the purpose of the legal matter, so there are some stringent procedures, which are followed in the strict manner. The chronological documentation is done logically, which shows all the steps like custody, seizure, transfer, control, disposal and analysis of the evidence in a systemic way. The methodological documentation prevents tampering of any evidence and provides the basis for legally accepted evidence whereas there is no strict procedure involved in the non-chain of custody DNA testing.
- In the chain of custody DNA tests, there are many requirements to prevent the contamination of the evidence like the all the concerned parties are required to present in the DNA testing lab during the sample taking. They are supposed to provide the legal identification before the sample collection. For that purpose, they are supposed to provide the legal ID proof and have pictures available of the participants. After that, all adults who are being tested are supposed to provide the written consent and if any minor is involved, the guardian of the minor must give the consent for the test.
- The professional of third party who is collecting the specimen, called the “sampler” should be trained professionally and will have to document his own participation truthfully. The collector of the specimen will do the proper labeling, packaging and shipping of the specimens precluding the possibility of the contamination.
- When the DNA testing Lab receives the specimen, they will have to isolate and test the specimen in a logical manner and document the procedure in the prepared format, by the staff who are participating in the DNA test. Further, they will have to report the results in a format which is acceptable for legal cases where as the non-chain of custody is done for satisfying the curiosity. The client themselves collect any sample from the house of the other party. The consent is not taken and the client deposits the specimen themselves with the DNA testing Lab for getting the result.
To check the biological relationship with DNA testing
If you just would like satisfy your curiosity regarding the biological relationship, you can do the non-chain of custody DNA testing, but if you want to establish the matter in the court of law, you will have do the chain of custody DNA testing, or Legal DNA Testing. It is not nearly as expensive and complicated as it was in the past. The online firms that specialize in this have put together very standardized procedures to make things as clear, concise and affordable as possible for the participants. If you’re looking at some sort of legal situation involving paternity, be sure to do it right the first time and get a legal paternity test done so that you don’t have to go to the expense to do it over again.
Legal DNA Testing is a post from: DNA Testing and Paternity Testing Guide
