Journey Genetic Testing

Can My DNA Be Tested Without My Knowledge?

Imagine suddenly receiving a letter and a copy of the DNA report that states the man you thought to be your biological father, isn't! You contact him and he says he never gave his permission for his DNA to be tested. And then he asks, "Can someone do that?" This happens all the time - grandparents test their grandchildren to be certain they are biologically related, mothers send in a DNA sample of the child and another man suspected of being the true biological father, a father sends in a DNA sample from his child without the mother knowing, to make certain the child is his. With the rise in accuracy of DNA testing, the questions that used to be family gossip, can know be answered in just a couple of days.

What about the legality of sending in someone's DNA to be tested without them knowing about it? It is not our intent to address the ethical issues surrounding this question, as there are valid arguments on both sides. What we do want to remind you is that when questions arise that require a DNA test to verify a relationship, emotions run high and these questions are not usually able to be put to rest until an answer is provided to person seeking to know the truth.

Regarding the question that is often asked about the legality of such testing, to the best of our knowledge, there is no specific law in the United States prohibiting a DNA test from being performed without a person's consent, or in the case of a child, the consent of a legal guardian. However, the only DNA tests that can be performed without consent are private, also known as "peace of mind," DNA tests. DNA testing results that are to be submitted as evidence in court, or for any legal purpose, which are done to prove a specific biological relationship, do require consent by the person being tested, or by the legal guardian for a minor child.

When a DNA mouth swab sample can't be obtained for testing, as is often the case when requesting a DNA test without another person's knowledge, the use of non-standard, or alternative DNA samples, are often used. Items like toothbrushes, hair strands with the roots attached, ear wax, cigarette butts, and many other items are often used for discreet testing without the other person aware that the testing is being done. Whether the items are gathered at home, or by a professional investigator, close to one out of every fifteen DNA paternity and relationship tests use something other than a mouth swab for DNA.

The answers these tests provide are important to those who are wanting to do the DNA testing. The results from the DNA comparison usually put all doubt to rest, and save uncomfortable, or hurtful, conversations in many cases. In the case of testing done through Journey Genetic Testing, there is no need to be concerned that any person's DNA we use to do the testing, with or without consent, that it will ever be shared with anyone else. or find it's way into any government database, or sold for research, as all samples and information are removed 30 days after the results are delivered.

If you ever find yourself faced with a report that states you are, or are not, related and you didn't know your DNA was tested, we suggest you make certain the DNA markers listed are actually yours. You can have an individual DNA profile done by submitting mouth swabs, and then compare those findings. If they are yours, they will match exactly. If it isn't your DNA, there will be differences.

Remember, the truth should always be available to everyone about their family relationships, no matter how that truth comes about.

Can I Do A Paternity Test If the Father Is Deceased? The answer is "yes."

DNA relationship testing is the most accurate method of confirming a biological relationship exists between two people. The most commonly used DNA test is a direct paternity test. In this test an alleged father's genetic profile is created and compared to that of a child. The result will confirm whether or not he is the biological father of a child. The test is very easy to do, as it only requires rubbing swabs (buccal) on the inside of the mouth and sending it to our laboratory for analysis.

However, we understand that there are situations where the alleged father is no longer available for voluntary testing due to the fact he is deceased. Often, the first thought of those facing this situation is that paternity can now never be established conclusively. This would not be accurate.

There are a number of options possible for confirming if the deceased is the biological father of one or more children. It may be possible to still obtain a DNA sample from the deceased. If not, then you can also consider using a DNA relationship test. These DNA comparisons are similar to a DNA paternity test, but instead it uses DNA testing of close members of the family to confirm various types of relationships. The options include a DNA sibling test, a grandparent DNA test, or an avuncular DNA test with uses a uncle/aunt and suspected niece(s)/nephew(s).

In case of the death of a suspected father, lets look at three separate instances and what you can to do in these situations:

Scenario 1: If death has very recently occurred it may still be possible to collect a biological sample from the body (usually this period is not more than 3-5 days from time of death). If the body has been take to a funeral home, we recommended that a licensed funeral director tries to obtain (where possible) a mouth swab sample. If this is not possible, hair samples with root as well as fingernail cuttings may be able to be used. If the DNA test is wanted for legal reasons, a funeral director can also complete a chain of custody for this type of collection.

Scenario 2: If an autopsy was performed by a licensed Medical Examiner (M.E.), and either a blood or tissue sample was kept (which is more common that you may think), the next of kin can contact the M.E. and ask if they would release that sample for DNA testing. This is done using a chain of custody. We regularly work with this type of situation.

Scenario 3: In the event that the body has already been buried, samples may be obtained in an indirect manner - for example through a toothbrush, comb (might contain useful hairs), dentures, or recently smoked cigarette butts. These samples are all likely to contain DNA material that can be used to perform the test. However, success in obtaining DNA from such non-standard DNA samples depend on a number of factors most importantly the condition of the sample.

These are some of the most commonly used options available. Most importantly is the ability to obtain a DNA specimen from the deceased person that may contain DNA. The costs and difficulties in obtaining a sample in Scenario 2 may be higher than simply obtaining some hair or fingernails from the body. However, each case is unique and if you find yourself in this situation, we suggest you contact a Genetic Consultant at 1-855-362-5224 to discuss your situation in detail.

Siblings Find Each Other After 80 Years Apart!

We have been given permission to share this story based on actual clients we had the opportunity to help through sibling testing. Only the names were changed at the family's request.

In the summer of 1942, in a small town in Eastern Europe, two sisters, Anna and Maria, were separated from each other during a bombing raid. Anna, the younger of the two, was just six years old while Maria was eight. They were hiding in the basement of their home when a bomb struck the house, and they were separated in the chaos. Both of their parents died.

Maria was taken in by a family who lived on the outskirts of town, while Anna was rescued by a group of nuns who were taking care of orphaned children. Despite their best efforts, the sisters were unable to reunite with each other, and they quickly lost touch. As the years passed, both Anna and Maria grew up, got married, and started their own families. They both had children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but they always wondered what had happened to their long-lost sibling.

Anna's granddaughter, Sophie, began researching more about the family history using a variety of online websites. After several years of trying to track down family, she finally through that she had found a probable connection. Anna was living in the U.S. and Maria was living in Eastern Europe, so meeting was not an option at first. Sophie researched the best way to prove if the person she found was the biological sister of Anna, and she agreed to do a Sibling DNA Test to verify if they were sisters. Anna agreed, and a few weeks later, they received the results. To everyone's surprise, the sibling test verified that Anna and Maria were indeed full sisters.

Anna and her family were shocked and overwhelmed by the news. Maria was equally shocked to learn that she had a sister living in United States. She had always wondered what had happened to Anna and had spent years searching for her without success. Now, in her eighties, she was finally going to be reunited with her long-lost sibling.

The two sisters arranged to meet in New York City, and their families came together to celebrate the reunion. When Anna and Maria saw each other for the first time in over 80 years, they embraced tightly and wept tears of joy. They spent hours catching up on each other's lives and reminiscing about their childhood.

Despite the years that had passed and the distance between them, Anna and Maria had an instant connection. They talked about their families, their memories, and their hopes for the future. They were grateful for the chance to finally be together again and to make up for lost time. As they got to know each other again, Anna and Maria discovered that they had much in common. They both loved to cook, enjoyed gardening, and had a passion for music. They also shared a deep connection to their homeland and were proud of their heritage.

Through their journey of separation and reunion, Anna and Maria had learned the importance of family, love, and perseverance. They had never given up hope of finding each other and were grateful for the chance to finally be together again. Last week Anna passed away.

The family gave permission to share their story in the hope that it might inspire others to seek out their long-lost relatives. We were told that both Anna and Maria were able to experience joy and happiness in finding each other again, and that Anna was able to speak with Maria by phone only hours before she passed away.

The entire staff at Journey Genetic Testing feels honored to have been able to be a part of this wonderful story, and to be part of bringing two sisters together again. It is why are dedicated to what we do, and we thank Anna and Marie's families for allowing us to be a part of their journey to truth, through DNA testing.