DNA testing has become a routine part of many people's lives. It can help you learn more about your ancestry, find out if you have certain genetic disorders, or even assist in identifying human remains after a disaster. However, when it comes to DNA collection, there are some concerns that you should be aware of. If there are any questions about the handling of your sample during testing or any concerns about tampering with those samples afterward, contact an attorney who specializes in DNA issues for assistance.
A person who is asked to provide a specimen of his or her DNA is asked to provide a sample, not their entire body. DNA is a molecule that makes up the genetic code of a person. It's found in cells and can be extracted from a sample of blood, saliva, or hair.
DNA can be used to identify an individual's ancestry (i.e., where they come from), determine if two people are related to each other through family ties (e.g., paternity tests), establish whether someone has been convicted of certain crimes (e.g., sexual assault), identify missing persons by comparing their DNA against existing databases containing profiles from unidentified human remains
Simply by giving a sample, a person has not given consent to any additional testing. The specimen collector can only perform the tests that were agreed upon during the consent process and nothing more. If you are uncomfortable with any additional tests being performed on your samples, simply inform the collector that you do not want them to proceed with those tests.
A donor who gives his or her blood sample for research purposes may withdraw his or her consent at any time before it is used in research or destroyed (see section 4).
A specimen collector can not perform any other tests on the sample without the express consent of the donor.
The law requires that specimens be labeled with identifying information, including:
A specimen collector cannot tamper with any sample that she has been given for testing, including using it for another test without permission from the donor. This includes using your specimen for another test without your express consent.
If you have concerns about how your DNA was collected or used, speak with an attorney about what your rights are under law in your state. You can report any concern about tampering with your DNA sample to law enforcement immediately. But if you aren't sure, then it's best to seek legal advice so that they can help determine whether there has been tampering and what the next steps should be.
If you have any concern about tampering with your DNA sample, contact law enforcement immediately. You can report concerns to:
DNA collection is a very important part of the criminal justice system and we must ensure that it is done in an ethical way. If you have concerns about how your DNA was collected or used, speak with an attorney about what your rights are under law in your state. You can also report any concern about tampering with your DNA sample to law enforcement immediately.