‘Peace of mind’ DNA testing
‘Peace of mind’ DNA testing is also known as "curiosity testing", "self sampling testing" and "home testing".
People tend to opt for this kind of testing outside of an official context, for purposes such as tracing family lineage.
Things to bear in mind:
- All individuals to be tested must sign a consent form whether the reasons for taking the DNA test are official or not - this is an absolute requirement under the Human Tissue Act 2004.
- Some companies offering DNA testing services on the Internet use non-UK laboratories for their testing. You should be aware that such laboratories are beyond the jurisdiction of UK legislation.
- The results you receive for a home ‘peace of mind’ test are not permissible as evidence in a court case. If you subsequently go to court to resolve a paternity dispute for example, you will need another test conducted by an accredited company.