FAQ Page

DNA test basics

Do I have to have a doctor’s perscription or court order?

No. Private individuals can take a DNA test without a physician’s request or court order. However, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) only allows clinical laboratories to examine specimens at the request of licensed physicians or other persons authorized by law to use the test results in their practice or in the performance of their official duties.

Can age or drug consumption affect the results?

No, age and drug consumption do not affect the results.

Will you protect my privacy?

We take our patients’ privacy very seriously, and we have the strict confidentiality policy to prove it.

We will not release any information about your case to anyone without your authorization.
We will always follow any special instructions you give us for communicating with you or other parties involved in your test.
We never release test results over the phone.

You can learn more about our privacy policy by Clicking Here.

What do I need to do to get a DNA test?

Simply use our online order form 24/7 or call 1-844-246-4363 during regular business hours to speak with one of our professional Genetic Consultants. They will evaluate your unique situation and recommend the best DNA testing service to answer your relationship questions.

Can a DNA relationship test be performed if the alleged father/mother is missing or deceased?

Several testing options are available in situations where the alleged father or mother is not available or deceased:

One option that you may want to considered is viability testing on a sample taken from the missing/deceased person, such as stored blood or a tissue sample. (This type of sample usually comes from a coroner’s or medical examiner’s office.) If usable DNA is found in the sample, we can conduct a DNA test using it as the other person’s sample.

If no biological samples from the other person are available, grandparentage, sibling, or avunbcular testing is the next option to consider. In the event of grandparent DNA testing, both biological parents of the alleged father (or mother) the paternal/maternal grandparents is suggested to participate in a standard 25 marker grandparentage test. If both grandparents, or the mother, is not available then we strongly encourage using our 44 marker test.

If one or both paternal grandparents are unavailable for testing, other family relationship tests–such as avuncular and siblingship tests–may be performed to indirectly determine a child’s biological relationship.

Results of these test prove are used to prove the relationship of each person to each other, and most government offices treat these results as indirect evidence of paternity/maternity.

DNA sample collection

Is there a time limit to collect all the DNA samples?

You have up to three (3) months to collect and return you samples from the time the kits are ordered. Individuals in different locations should collect and return their samples within 4 weeks of one another.

Can DNA test kits be sent to more than one location for the same test?

Yes, a DNA paternity test can be easily conducted even if the different parties to be tested are in different cities or even in different countries. Each DNA paternity testing kit is assigned a unique identification number. If the different parties live in different cities or different countries, DNA paternity testing kits with the unique case number can be sent directly to each party. After collection, each individual can separately send the specimens directly to the DNA laboratory. The DNA specimens will be correctly matched at the DNA laboratory for each case using the unique case number. When ordering online, simply select the option of two or more kits (depending on the number of people testing) on the order form and enter the additional name and address in the box that will automatically show when this selection is made!

How do I know that I’m collecting my samples correctly?

The kit is very easy to use and we provide simple, step-by-step instructions for collecting cheek cell samples using the mouth swabs provided. If you follow the instructions carefully, there is no need for you to be concerned with making mistakes.

Do I have to go to a lab for my sample collection?

No. With our home testing option, which gives you the same result as the legal test, you can collect your sample at a time and location that is easy for you. You can also you the Make Your Own DNA Kit (MYOK) to save additional time and money. For more information on the MYOK process, please Click Here.

Does a mouth swab produce the same results as a blood sample?

Yes. Buccal swab samples contain the same DNA as blood samples and will therefore produce the same paternity test results. Buccal swabbing is our primary sample collection method because it is a simple and painless procedure. In addition, buccal swabs are particularly preferable over blood samples for persons who have had recent blood transfusions or bone marrow transplants—their blood samples may contain DNA from the donors.

Results

When will my results be ready?

Once our laboratory has received all the tested parties’ samples, we will complete the test within 2 -5 working days, depending on the test, and you can check your results using your online results login.

How will I receive my results?

Our method of delivering DNA test results is via a secure online portal. You will be required to use the username and password which you provide at the time of your order on the order form. This is to protect our patients’ privacy, as we do not want someone who is not authorized viewing the results.

What do the results look like, and how do I interpret them?

Our DNA tests result includes a table that lists:

The allele sizes of the different DNA markers examined and used in the statistical analysis portion of the test (i.e., the DNA profile)
A Probability of Paternity/Relationship value
A Combined Paternity/Relationship Index (CPI/CRI) value

You will want to focus on the Probability of Relationship. A result of 0% means there is no biological relationship; a result of 99.99% or higher means the alleged father is the biological father for Paternity Tests and 80% or higher indicates a biological relationship for sibling, grandparent and avuncular DNA results. The CPI/CRI value represents the odds against another random, untested person in the population having the same results as the person being tested.

Can you tell me what my results are?

Our policy prohibits us from releasing the results to any person over the phone. This is to protect the privacy of those testing and the confidentiality of the testing. If there are questions concerning the results, please complete a Support Ticket on our website and a Genetic Consultant will respond at the first opportunity.

Legal testing

Will my test results be legally binding?

Our labs strictly adhere to the chain of custody procedure, and this makes our test results legally defensible. Many of our patients use their test results for legal purposes such as child custody, child support, immigration, Social Security benefit claims, inheritance claims, and more.

Can I use my test results to obtain child support?

Testing through Bio-Gene DNA follows a strict chain of custody, which makes our results defensible in courts and other government agencies. Many of our patients use their test results to obtain child support and for other important legal purposes, such as validating claims for Social Security benefits or inheritances.

What does “chain of custody” mean?

The chain of custody process is what makes Bio-Gene DNA’s test results legally defensible in courts and other government agencies. It involves three main aspects:

The tested parties are properly identified when their samples are collected. (Their government-issued IDs are verified and photocopied.)
The samples are collected by a neutral third party—someone who has no personal interest in the outcome of the test (e.g., a co-worker, notary a hospital, clinic, or laboratory staff person).
The samples are tamper-taped, securely packaged at the collection site, and carefully inspected upon receipt for any evidence of tampering.

When these requirements are satisfied and documented, a DNA test’s results are legally defensible. This means that the patients can use them for legal purposes such as child custody, child support, immigration, and more.

Price and Payment

Is DNA testing covered by health insurance or Medicaid?

Paternity and family relationship DNA testing is not considered to be a medically necessary procedure; therefore, it is not covered by health insurance or Medicaid.

How much does a DNA test cost?

We understand that no two situations are exactly alike, and our pricing depends on the test being performed and the number of people being tested. Please visit the page that best reflects the type of test you are interested in, from the menu bar above, to view our test fees.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept the following forms of payment:

-Visa
-MasterCard
-Discover
-American Express
-Debit cards (with a Visa/MasterCard logo)
-Gift cards (with a Visa/MasterCard logo)

All processing is done through our secure and encrypted online payment portal for your protecting and safety.

If you have questions about any of these payment options, please call 1-844-246-4363

Why are your prices so low? Can I trust the results?

The question we often ask is “why are other DNA testing labs so expensive?”

All testing meets AABB standards, and all legal testing is AABB accredited. We perform higher marker testing, at lower prices, for the simple reason that part of our mission statement is to provide the truth to our clients at the lowest possible cost. We don’t believe the truth should be something that will break the bank and that everyone is entitled to know who their biological family is.

About Bio-Gene DNA

Are you accredited?

Our testing laboratories are CLIA and AABB accredited for relationship testing. You can learn more about accredition for DNA testing HERE.

Where is your lab located?

We have 4 testing labs worldwide depending on the testing being performed. Each of our facilities specializes in very specific tests that we offer, rather than perform everything at one location. When you sample arrives at a particular lab, you can be certain that the techs processing your DNA will be able to focus their attention on your type of test. We are able to process your results in a shorter time frame than if each of our testing labs were generalists rather than specialists.

Why don't I find many reviews on your company?

The nature of our services calls for privacy and discretion much of the time. The reputable review sites that are common for professional services require each person posting to use their real name and email address. We discourage our clients from posting reviews if they feel the information requested may breach their privacy.

Bio-Gene DNA also will not post, nor do we encourage, reviews or testimonials that change the name of the person testing. Any testimonials on our site are real, not created to make our company look better, and each person has given permission to be identified as listed. We receive letters all the time letting us know how someone’s life has been changed as a result of our service, we just don’t feel the need to list them all.

Do you have a sample collection location near me?

We have an extensive network of DNA sample collection sites that covers all U.S. states and Canadian provinces. We also have numerous collection sites in other countries around the world. All on-site testing is for legal DNA test results only, as the collector will follow a strict chain of custody process for the sample. Please call one of our Genetic Consultants at 1-844-246-4363 for more information.