LONDON, UK (October, 24, 2011) – DNA Diagnostics Centre (DDC), the UK’s leading company for DNA paternity and relationship testing, announced today that DDC is the only company offering the first non-invasive prenatal paternity test in the UK. The new test uses SNP Microarray Technology, which requires only a simple blood sample collection from both the mother and alleged father.
Dr. Michael Baird, a leading expert in DNA analysis and Chief Science Officer of DDC, confirmed the new test is 100 percent safe for the developing fetus, 99.9 percent accurate, and is performed in a CLIA-certified laboratory. The DDC Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test is now available online at www.dnacentre.co.uk or by calling 0845 408 2084 with results available in eight business days. Clients can have their blood collected at the DDC walk-in facility in West London or visit a number of centres throughout the United Kingdom.
According to Dr. Baird, the use of SNP Microarray Technology is the “gold standard for this type of test,” using over 317,000 genetic markers and bioinformatics to determine paternity. Dr. Baird said, “The DDC Non-Invasive Prenatal Test allows an alternative for people seeking paternity results prior to the baby’s birth, and replaces paternity tests that utilize procedures such as amniocentesis that are very invasive and carry extreme risks for the mother and the child. What makes this new test extraordinary is that it uses ‘free circulating’ fetal DNA naturally found in the mother’s blood and diagnosed by a blood test. With this technology, the DDC Non-Invasive Prenatal Test is by far the most groundbreaking innovation in paternity testing in the UK in the last decade.”
Peter Vitulli, CEO of DDC and responsible for securing the exclusive license from GSN, a private genetic company, stated, “The DDC Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test will change the face of the prenatal DNA market, as well as finally give prospective parents the safety, convenience and accuracy they were hoping for.”
In addition, DDC also provides DNA tests for paternity, adoption, forensics, immigration, and animal testing. For more information: www.dnacentre.co.uk or call 0845 408 2084.
As the largest provider of private DNA paternity and other DNA tests in the U.S. and worldwide for more than 16 years, DDC (DNA Diagnostics Centre) offers comprehensive DNA testing services for paternity and other family relationships, forensics and ancestry. DDC was the first to adopt robotics technology in its laboratory processes, ensuring highly stringent and efficient handling of DNA samples. DDC’s unique Dual Process™ ensures all professionally collected DNA samples are independently tested twice producing legal results of unmatched quality and reliability. DDC is recognized through a number of accreditations nationally and internationally achieving perfect ratings in its past 16 inspections including those performed by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). DDC is also accredited by ACLASS to meet the standards of ISO 17025 and the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board International and follows the DNA Advisory Board (DAB) guidelines, which attests to DDC’s superior forensic testing service.