DNA

People need DNA testing for a variety of reasons. Although DIY tests are available, if the test is to serve any serious purpose, the superior accuracy of a full professional DNA laboratory test is essential. That is what we offer, together with the benefit of personal face-to-face service from a trained and experienced counsellor, with testing by a UK laboratory.

We can carry out the following professional DNA tests:

• Paternity DNA test (to establish the biological father of an individual)
• Maternity DNA test (to establish the biological mother of an individual)
• Peace-of-mind DNA test (for personal information only, as the identities of the individuals involved are not legally verified)
• Court-admissible DNA test (required if the results are to be presented as evidence in court)
• Sibling DNA analysis (to determine whether two or more individuals have the same biological parents)
• Y chromosome analysis (to establish whether or not two males come from the same paternal line)
• Grandparent analysis (to provide definitive answers when trying to establish a biological relationship between an individual and the alleged grand-parents)

In order to provide the most accurate professional DNA tests available, together with counselling support if required, we work in close collaboration with DNA Clinics Limited, a leading UK-based professional DNA testing laboratory with fully accredited facilities*. DNA tests are carried out here at the Life Story Therapeutic Centre DNA Clinic in Reading. We then pass the test swabs to DNA Clinics Limited, who carry out the laboratory analysis and provide a full report. You can be assured that our service is personal, discreet, confidential and ethical.

Counselling support is available if you need it

When you have a DNA test at Life Story you will be assigned a personal case manager. He or she will guide you through the DNA test, take your DNA samples (mouth swabs) and offer you friendly, impartial support.
Your DNA test result will be provided within 5-7 working days (an express service is available) in the form of a written report. This can be sent to you by post or email (for those over sixteen), or you may prefer to receive it in an optional half-hour face-to-face result session, during which you can discuss the result and ask any questions. You can also choose, from a range of counselling options, the level of support you need as an individual or family. But if you prefer, you can simply have the test and analysis carried out, without any counselling.

What does a DNA test involve?

The normal procedure is to make a half-hour appointment at our DNA Clinic, during which you complete registration and consent forms, pay the fee and provide your DNA sample. We accept payment by cash or credit card, but not cheque. The fees are shown here.

Taking the sample is a simple and completely painless process. Special swabs similar to cotton buds are gently rubbed on the inside of each person’s cheeks to collect some microscopic skin cells. The swabs are then sealed, labelled and sent to DNA Clinics Limited for laboratory analysis.
In a paternity test, we usually collect a sample of DNA from the mother, her child and the alleged father. All three can attend together or one adult may wish to attend separately.

DNA Legal Test Service Protocols process

For a test on a child under sixteen, we require the consent of an adult with parental responsibility. If we consider that the child is capable of understanding, we also require their consent.

If the people to be tested live in different parts of the country we can offer two-centre DNA paternity tests, for which there is an extra charge.

For more information
To make an appointment or find out more about our DNA tests and DNA counselling, please contact us on 0118 958 0508 or by e-mail.
To speak directly to a scientist about the DNA test call the DNA Clinics Limited laboratory on 0800 032 5945 during office hours.

More about DNA Clinics Limited

*One of the many reasons we are pleased to be associated with DNA Clinics Ltd. is that they analyse no fewer than 16 genetic locations in their DNA tests. This makes their test much more thorough (and expensive for the laboratory) than less accurate tests carried out by other organisations only using 8 or 10 genetic locations.

The laboratory facilities at DNA Clinics Limited are accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to the International Standard ISO 17025, and by the Ministry of Justice to carry out parentage tests directed by civil courts in England and Wales under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969.