Paternity Testing Reviews for Alpha Biolabs

At a Glance

Editor's Rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Customer Service:
5 out of 5 stars
Clarity of Results:
5 out of 5 stars
References Cited:
5 out of 5 stars
Value for Money:
5 out of 5 stars

Summary

The service provided by Alpha Biolabs was inexpensive compared to many providers, and my results arrived in the time promised. Seeing that the lab had multiple accreditations and was employed by the Ministry of Justice gave me confidence in the accuracy of their results and reliability of their service.

When ordering the test, I was given various options to allow me to cater it to my needs, and the results were simple, straightforward, and easy to understand.

Full Review

Established in 2004, AlphaBiolabs offers DNA testing both for “peace of mind” and legal purposes. The company has multiple awards and meets ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 standards for business management and testing and calibration laboratories.

Product Expectations

I soon found the paternity test on the Alpha Biolabs website. In the information, I read that their paternity test would look at 25 DNA markers to work out which half of the child’s DNA is inherited from the mother, and which half is from the father. A sample from the mother too would be ideal (probably to make this easier), but the paternity test could be performed with just the alleged father(s) and child.

It was made clear that this was a “peace of mind” test, and could not be used for legal purposes (such as changing the name on a birth certificate, immigration applications, or matters of family law).

There were details of what the DNA testing kit would contain: a request/consent form for DNA testing, instructions on how to take the test and return the samples, a pre-addressed envelope, three sets of cheek swabs, and three envelopes for the samples (you could request more swabs in order to test more people).

Once my samples reached the lab, my results would be emailed to me within 3-5 days.

Ordering Experience

It was easy to order the paternity test through the Alpha Biolabs site. I could select how many children and fathers were to be tested, fill in my name (the results were of course confidential), and select any additional reports I wanted besides confirmation or exclusion of paternity. I could request to see the DNA technical data (i.e., the technical results of the DNA analysis, besides the paternity result), an electropherogram (which I discovered was a plot of DNA sequencing results), or a hard copy of my results.

I could select whether I wanted same day or next day results, and how fast I wanted to receive my kit (standard delivery was free), and whether I wanted to send a kit to more than one address.

It was necessary to create a password in order to view my results, or speak to an advisor. I was pleased to know that they would request a password before talking to me about my results, since this would ensure confidentiality.

I could pay online with a credit/debit card, and it was necessary to enter a shipping and billing address, and an additional address if I wanted a kit to be sent to more than one location. Before purchasing, I was asked to agree to the website’s terms and conditions.

The kit arrived promptly, and contained a test request and consent form, three sets of swabs and envelopes, instructions for taking the samples, and a pre-addressed envelope, all as promised on the Alpha Biolabs website.

It was easy to take the DNA samples, and using the cheek swabs was painless and undaunting (no blood necessary). After carefully fulling out the paternity test request form and giving consent for DNA testing, I mailed back the samples in the addressed envelope. (It was necessary to pay for return postage.)

The Results

I got my results email a few days after my samples reached the lab. There were three PDFs attached: a guide to understanding my results, a feedback questionnaire, and my paternity results report.

I wasn’t sure why a guide was necessary (except for people ordering the additional DNA technical data and electropherogram), since the report was very straightforward. It stated that there was a 0% probability of paternity between myself and the person tested.

Click to see larger
My paternity results report.

My paternity results report.

In the “Statement”, I read that based on the analysis of the STR markers listed in the technical data, the probability of paternity was 0%. I had also ordered the DNA technical data, which compared STR markers between myself and my alleged child in the form of a table (shown below).

Click to see larger
My DNA technical data.

My DNA technical data.

This table didn’t mean very much to me, but it was reassuring to see the analysis that had gone into the paternity testing process. If I was unsure or unclear about my results, I could have consulted with someone from Alpha Biolabs about it.

Again, Alpha Biolabs reiterated that as the test was only for peace of mind purposes, these results were not admissible in court.

If the results were still unclear, a “Conclusion” stated that the person I had taken the test with had been excluded as my biological father.

The report was signed by the reporting scientist.

I took a look at the guide to understanding my results. This explained what was meant by STR markers, how the test worked, the accuracy of the results, and how paternity, maternity, and other kinship tests worked. The guide was short, sweet, and easy to understand, and there was a link to the Alpha Biolabs FAQ page for more information.

Summary

The service provided by Alpha Biolabs was inexpensive compared to many providers, and my results arrived in the time promised. Seeing that the lab had multiple accreditations and was employed by the Ministry of Justice gave me confidence in the accuracy of their results and reliability of their service.

When ordering the test, I was given various options to allow me to cater it to my needs, and the results were simple, straightforward, and easy to understand.

Please note we were invited to take this test free of charge.

Visit Alpha Biolabs to learn more about this DNA testing service >