Legal DNA Testing

Once you have submitted the NorthGene™ registration form, we will despatch our network of sample collectors. They will be in touch with you or your clients within 24 hours to arrange sample collection at a time and place that is convenient for you.

Sample collection will only take 5-10 minutes.

When the process is complete, samples are returned to our UK laboratory, where they are inspected and processed in the laboratory on the same day. The resultant data is analysed the following day.

Results are issued to those listed on the registration form the next working day following sample receipt.

Due to the strict requirements surrounding legal DNA testing, prices start from £325 for two individuals. These prices are competitive and compliant with Legal Aid Agency guidance, ensuring you receive a high-quality, accredited service at a fair cost.

• Additional participants are £100 extra per person.
• Additional home addresses are £95 per address.

When shipping the tests outside of the UK, costs are provided on a case-by-case basis due to the additional logistics involved.

Before sample collection can take place, the identity of all participants must be verified.

Participants may choose to provide a passport-style photograph of themselves. This photograph must be signed by the sample collector to certify that it is a true likeness of the individual. Alternatively, the sample collector may take a photograph during the appointment.

The digital photograph must then be submitted to the NorthGene™ Customer Services team via email to northgene@biofortuna.com, again confirming true likeness to the person they took the sample from.

Read our blog to learn more about the requirements of a legal DNA test.

The sample collector must also inspect a valid and certify form of photographic identification, such as a passport or driving licence. A copy or photograph of the identification document must be taken and, like the photograph, be submitted to the NorthGene™ Customer Services team.

Consent must be obtained in order to complete a legal DNA test. For children under the age of 16, this consent must be signed for by those with parental responsibility, such as:

• the mother,
• the father listed on the birth certificate,
• the person named on an adoption certificate,
• a Local Authority named on an Interim Care Order (ICO) or
• the social worker.

You can learn more about consent in our blog.

Peace of mind DNA tests are self-collected, designed to give individuals or families personal reassurance. Legal DNA tests, in contrast, require a strict chain of custody and must be performed under controlled conditions.

To learn more about the difference between legal and peace of mind DNA tests, click here.

To arrange a legal DNA test, simply complete the registration form with all the relevant details. This can be done either by downloading and completing the downloadable form and returning it to us at northgene@biofortuna.com, or by submitting our online registration form.

Once we have received your registration, our dedicated team will review the information and instruct a member of our network of independent sample collectors. They will contact you within 24 hours to arrange an appointment at a time and location that is convenient for you.

Yes. In the UK, a DNA test can only be carried out with the appropriate consent, and taking a sample without consent may have legal consequences.

However, refusing to participate in a DNA test can sometimes have legal or financial implications, particularly where the test is relevant to legal proceedings. For example, in paternity and child maintenance cases, a court may draw conclusions from a refusal to take a DNA test when making its decision.

For children under the age of 16 who cannot provide their own consent, a mother may refuse permission for a legal paternity test if she has parental responsibility. However, her consent may not be required if the alleged father also has parental responsibility and is legally entitled to consent on the child’s behalf.

We strongly recommend that wherever possible, all parties with parental responsibility should be informed about testing.

A paternity test can be requested by any party who wishes to establish whether someone is the biological father of a child. In some circumstances, the court can also direct that a DNA test be carried out where determining parentage is necessary to resolve legal proceedings, such as child arrangements or child maintenance cases.

However, a court order for a DNA test cannot usually be obtained on its own and must form part of wider legal proceedings.

Although the court can direct a person to take a DNA test, it cannot physically force them to provide a sample without their consent. If a person refuses to take a court-directed DNA test, the court may draw adverse inferences from that refusal. For example, it may conclude that the person is refusing the test because the results would be unfavourable to their case.

In some situations, a refusal to comply with a court direction may also affect the outcome of the proceedings. The court may decide to dismiss or limit a person’s application if parentage cannot be determined because they have refused to participate in the testing process.

Yes. From sample collection to testing and analysis, NorthGene™ maintains a full chain of custody. This ensures that the samples are collected, handled and tested in a secure, controlled environment without any risk of contamination.

To arrange a legal DNA test, please complete our Registration Form with all required details and return to NorthGene^™ by uploading to the web page or via email to northgene@biofortuna.com.

Once received, our team will review the form and be in touch regarding any additional or missing details. They will also instruct our sample collectors to contact with the participants directly to arrange an appointment to complete the test, ensuring an efficient process.

Yes. NorthGene™ can facilitate prison collections and requires the participant’s Prison ID number to confirm their identity.

Please be advised that in these cases, it can take more time than collecting in your offices or the participant’s home.

Yes, we can issue results directly to the courts. To do so, you must list the court’s relevant email address on the registration form. We only send results to the contacts specified on this form.