WARRINGTON-based DNA testing provider AlphaBiolabs is celebrating after becoming the first UK laboratory to be awarded accreditation for its non-invasive prenatal paternity testing.
The laboratory, which provides a range of DNA, drug, alcohol, and Covid-19 testing services for members of the public, the legal sector, and the workplace sector, was awarded ISO 17025 accreditation by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) following a two-year validation process.
Beginning in 2019, the AlphaBiolabs DNA team undertook an extensive validation project, ensuring that the company’s prenatal paternity testing methods met the highest possible standards for efficacy, as required by UKAS.
The project was then submitted to UKAS, and an external audit was conducted to ensure the company’s DNA analysis met the criteria for ISO 17025 accreditation, an internationally recognised standard for testing and calibration laboratories.
As well as supplying prenatal paternity testing for members of the public and legal clients across the UK, AlphaBiolabs also exports its prenatal paternity tests to 23 countries around the world.
News of the accreditation comes as figures show demand for prenatal paternity tests is on the rise.
As last year, the company recorded a 47 per cent increase in such tests performed versus pre-pandemic levels* as more people become aware of the benefits of this innovative, risk-free test.
A non-invasive prenatal paternity test can be carried out from as early as seven weeks into pregnancy, making it possible to determine paternity before a baby is born.
An AlphaBiolabs prenatal paternity test is 100 per cent safe for both mother and baby, as it only requires cheek swabs and a blood sample from the mother and cheek swabs from the father. It is possible to identify the unborn baby’s DNA via the mother’s blood sample, as DNA from the foetus is passed into the mother’s bloodstream via the placenta during pregnancy.
If the man in question is the biological father of the child, the man and baby will share DNA markers.
Casey Randall, head of DNA at AlphaBiolabs, said: “We are really proud to be the first testing laboratory in the UK to secure this accreditation and the achievement is testament to the hard work and dedication of our DNA team.
“For many people, establishing paternity before a baby is born can have a significant impact, not just on family dynamics, but also during any legal proceedings where arrangements need to be made to safeguard a child that may be at risk, or where families need to prove paternity to resolve maintenance payment or child custody issues.
“We pride ourselves on being a market leader in innovation, investing in the people, tools and techniques that put us as the forefront of DNA analysis. With UKAS accreditation, customers can be confident that AlphaBiolabs’ prenatal paternity testing is performed to the highest possible standard for fast, accurate results that they can trust.”
