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 very prompt, and inexpensive compared to many providers. 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 the test to my needs, and the results were simple, straightforward, and easy to understand.

Full Review

Established in 2004, Alpha Biolabs offers DNA and drug and alcohol testing both for “peace of mind” and legal purposes. The company has multiple awards, including the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation, and is accredited by UKAS and meets ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 standards for business management and testing and calibration laboratories. They are also accredited by the Ministry of Justice to carry out parentage tests for the civil courts in England and Wales.

Product Expectations

I soon found the paternity test on the Alpha Biolabs website. Immediately, I saw I had two options: either same day results (more expensive) or next day results (much cheaper).

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.

I saw they were the “UK’s most popular home DNA paternity test”, and that Alpha Biolabs was often used by TV programmes like the Jeremy Kyle show.

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. (Though legal paternity tests could be purchased from Alpha Biolabs for a higher price).

I saw that for same day results, my sample would have to reach the lab by 10am, which would require me to pay for the Royal Mail special delivery service, and my results would be ready after 4:30pm. By opting for next day results, I would receive my results by 4:30pm on the next day, again assuming my sample reached the lab by 10am.

There were a couple of informative videos on the site, one talking about the emotional implications of taking a paternity DNA test, and the other showing how to take the cheek swab samples.

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).

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, but as the cheek swabs were light and small and it was a standard letter envelope, it only required a first-class stamp to ensure next day delivery.)

The Results

I had my results sooner than I expected. Since I hadn’t ordered special delivery, I’d expected not to receive them for at least two days, but just before 4:30pm the next day I received an email with my results.

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 (unless I’d ordered the additional DNA technical data and electropherogram), since the report was very straightforward. It stated that there was a 0% probability of paternity between the person tested and myself.

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 (which I hadn’t ordered), the probability of paternity was 0%. If I wanted to view the technical data, I could still order it for a fee.

Again, they 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” at the end of the report said 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 very prompt, and inexpensive compared to many providers. 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 the test 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 >

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

Overall I felt the service Alpha Biolabs provided was excellent, they were professional and very fast. I would use them again if I needed to test whether I was the biological father of a child.

Full Review

The Alpha Biolabs website was clear, easy to use and reassuring compared to the others I’d researched. I was asked if the mother was supplying a sample but I wasn’t sure why this was important. I liked that there was a live chat window in case I had any questions.

Ordering Experience

There were no extra fees on top of the advertised price and I received the kit the day after ordering – it came in an inconspicuous envelope marked ‘private and confidential’. No one could have known what it was without opening it which was reassuring.

The kit was very professional, easy to use, with instructions that were easy to understand. There was very little paperwork to read and complete, I was pleasantly surprised by how simple the process was. An addressed envelope was included to return the samples but I had to pay for postage.

I wasn't sent confirmation that the samples had reached the lab but I received the results two working days after sending them off – I was delighted by how fast the service was!

The Results

The results were emailed to me in a password protected PDF letter which had been personally signed (shown below). The letter clearly stated that the probability of my being the biological father of the child tested was 0%.

Click to see larger
The results letter.

The results letter.

Summary

Overall I felt the service Alpha Biolabs provided was excellent, they were professional and very fast. I would use them again if I needed to test whether I was the biological father of a child.

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