DNA Lab
When it comes to procedures that require DNA testing, there is no question that only a DNA lab can provide such a service. Because these tests have possible legal use, finding the right DNA lab to perform the procedure is essential both for accuracy and for use in court.
There are several instances where testing must be done on a subject's DNA to match with other specimen that can connect their identities. Often, legal procedures come hand in hand with the test results so that it is very important that the integrity of the sample and the DNA lab is without question - only then can the results be admissible in any legal court as valid evidence. For instance, in DNA forensics, sampling is crucial in determining if it can be incriminating to the suspect - semen samples in rape victims are usually very important evidence against the suspect/s.
In some instances, court procedures would really require DNA evidence - for example, paternity cases and child custody. The DNA lab conducts a test and matches the DNA of the father and the child and determines paternity.
In most cases, it is the integrity of the DNA lab that would strengthen the value of the evidence. That is because DNA fingerprinting can be done through home kits and through laboratories but the accuracy of the test relies on the capability of the kit and the lab. For instance, it is very easy to find an electrophoresis lab to extract DNA samples and test them but if that lab is not accredited by the AABB - American Association of Blood Banks - then the amount paid for the test is wasted because the results may be rejected in court.
One can also have DNA tests in any AP biology lab but, again, these are only for confirmatory purposes and have no legal bearing.
How can one choose the right DNA lab? The best thing to do is look up those AABB-accredited ones. Also, lawyers can obtain information on which lab is accepted in court. When one is serious about using whatever DNA evidence can be tested then it is essential that the accredited DNA lab really knows how to collect and test the samples within legal approval.
