DNA testing plays a vital role in resolving legal disputes, from confirming biological relationships to settling immigration cases and identifying individuals involved in criminal activities. For years, various agencies, including law enforcement, have relied on DNA fingerprinting as a powerful tool in solving legal cases.
It’s essential to note that a DNA test for legal purposes is a distinct process from peace of mind (POM) tests. The former involves a myriad of legal formalities and paperwork, making it a complex and intricate process.
Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved in legal DNA tests in India:
The legal DNA testing process involves several key steps, each of which is crucial to the accuracy and legality of the test.
- Initially, the honorable judge hearing your case will order the collection of a DNA sample at a district or state laboratory. At that point, you can formally request an accredited private lab for the test, as government testing facilities may take months to schedule an appointment.
- Then, under the chain of custody (samples collected in the courtroom or in the presence of a court-appointed representative), samples will be collected from the two or more parties.
- Ultimately, the reports will be sent directly to the hearing judge, as in legal disputes, reports aren’t sent to the parties being tested.
Procedure for the Legal DNA Tests
The procedure for legal DNA tests involves similar steps to those of other forms of DNA tests. A short tandem repeat (STR) profiling technique is used for legal DNA testing. This process generates the unique genetic profile of an individual, which is later compared with other DNA profiles to identify a potential match or mismatch.
After the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the individual DNA profiles of the parties are generated and compared. If the resulting profiles match at 99.99%, the biological relationship is proven. If there is a 0% match, the genetic relationship fails to be established.
Types of Legal DNA Testing:
The legal DNA testing is divided into five different parts:
- Paternity & Maternity Cases – Such cases involve battles related to divorce, child custody, and inheritance claims.
- Crime Investigations – In a crime, small pieces of evidence, such as hair, skin cells, blood drops, fingerprints, etc., leave DNA traces. The forensics team analyzes the evidence and runs it through a criminal database to see if there is a possible match.
- Sponsored Immigration – A family member living abroad sometimes sponsors the visa of another family member. For further verification, embassies sometimes use DNA reports to validate biological relationships.
- Property and Inheritance Cases – Inheritance and property disputes often happen in India. Therefore, DNA tests can establish biological relationships for inheritance purposes in such matters.
- Preventing Child Trafficking – To prevent child trafficking and illegal adoptions, legal DNA tests help the authorities to confirm the true identity of the children, including their biological parents.
Cost of Legal DNA Tests in India
The cost* of legal DNA tests in India depends on several factors, such as:
- Paternity/Maternity Test – 35,000
- Immigration DNA Test – 42,480
- Siblingship or Grandparentage Test – 35,400 INR
*Prices are subject to change
DNA Forensics Laboratory (DFL) – A Reliable Lab for DNA Tests in India
The DNA Forensics Laboratory (DFL) is among India’s leading and most trustworthy labs for all types of DNA Tests. DFL is accredited by NABL, and it’s the only private DNA testing company in India to provide court-admissible DNA reports for the honorable courts of law.
For more information or to book your legal DNA test in India, call us at +91 8010177772. Alternatively, you can send us a WhatsApp message on +91 9213177771.
