‘Genetic Profiling’ is also known as ‘DNA Fingerprinting’, or as an ‘Identity’ service for DNA.
There are several reasons why a person might want a copy of their Genetic Profile:
- If that person has a high risk job and wants to take measures to help identify them in the event of an accident.
- In case someone leaving an inheritance suspects a claim may be disputed after their death, a simple profile comparison can help determine a biological relationship with the claimant.
On purchasing, the provider will send you a testing kit with everything you need to take a cheek swab sample. You can take the sample at home and after you send the kit back, they’ll be in touch with your profile a few days later.
Genetic profiles are produced to an international standard so different organisations can interpret them in the same way, no matter which country you’re in.
Will the provider keep a copy of my profile?
Some providers will keep a copy of your profile on record in a secure database, in case verification is required in the future. Others will remove your profile from their database as a measure of data protection. You should check the policy of your chosen provider if either case is important to you.
Genetic profiling vs. Genome sequencing
Bear in mind that genetic profiling is not the sequencing of your entire genome. Genetic profiles are produced by analysing only a small part of your DNA, but don’t worry, that profile will still be completely unique to you.
’Peace of mind’ or ‘legal’ test?
If you need to produce your genetic profile for ‘legal’ proceedings, it’s the legal tests that are court admissible. The science behind the tests is exactly the same – the difference is that for court admissible tests, somebody official needs to watch them being taken so the court is assured that the samples came from the right people. Court admissible tests also require that the samples be handled securely all the way to the lab.
Watch out for VAT and hefty postage being added at the checkout. Some providers with offices in the UK will use labs overseas, so if having your profile produced by a lab in the UK is important to you (and the provider’s website isn’t clear) check out our listings for these details.
