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Genetrack South Africa Support
  1. Genetrack South Africa
  2. FAQs
  3. Policies and Terms
  4. DNA Testing

Service Terms & Fees

    Additional Services

    • Replacement Kits: R100 per individual plus shipping
    • Extra Legal Reports: R8000
    • Extra Private Email Reports: R500
    • Extra Private Mailed Reports: R500 plus shipping
    • Re-activating an account once it has been in-activated: R1500
    • Retrieval of documents from archive (over 2 years old): R6000

    Private Reports

    Each Private test includes one mail report and one Email report which must be requested at the time of ordering at no extra charge. Additional reports are R500 each plus shipping.

    Each Legal test includes up to two sets of legal documents which must be requested at the time of ordering at no extra charge. Additional legal documents beyond the first two are R8000 each plus shipping. Once the test is completed, the service includes sending the legal document by regular post to the address indicated by the client at the time of ordering.

    Retrieval of Documents from Archive (over 2 years old)

    After a case has been completed and closed for over 2 years, the cost to retrieve the document is R6000 in addition to the cost of the document.

    Extra Kits

    In the event that you lose or damage your DNA Collection Kit, a replacement kit can be issued for R100, plus shipping.

    Relationship Index

    The results of the DNA Relationship Test indicates whether the tested parent is the true biological parent of the child by comparing the child’s profile to the alleged parent’s profile. The parentage test will provide greater than 99.9% for inclusion and 100% for exclusion. The 16 to 24 loci STR test is run for all relationship testing casework. Only the loci which meet acceptability criteria will be reported.

    Turnaround Time

    The routine turnaround time for DNA testing is approximately 3 to 5 working days for relationship tests and 7 to 14 days for medical and ancestry tests. The turnaround time for testing begins on the date that the specimen is received by the laboratory. As with any biological testing, some exceptions may occur. The typical reasons for extended testing are:

    1. Poor sample quality. If the swab submitted to the laboratory has low amounts of DNA due to improper sample collection or poor mouth conditions (e.g. excessive drinking, chewing gum, dry mouth, heavy smoking, etc.), the turnaround time may increase or a recollection may be required.
    2. Mutation. If a mutation is detected in the genes shared by the alleged parent and child, additional testing may be required.
    3. Low relationship index. If the genes shared by the alleged parent and the child are very common, a low relationship index may be obtained. In such a situation, additional testing may be required and/or the mother may be requested to join the test if the test is originally a motherless test.
    4. Incest or related alleged fathers. In cases of incest (i.e. where the alleged father is also the father or brother of the mother), or in cases where two or more possible fathers of the same child are closely related to each other (i.e. where the possible fathers of the child are father and son, or brothers), additional testing and analysis may be required and will result in an increased turnaround time.

    The #1 priority of the laboratory is the quality of the testing and the absolute accuracy of the results. The turnaround time cannot be guaranteed if an exception is encountered. The laboratory will not under any circumstances sacrifice the quality of the test in order to speed up the turnaround time. If additional testing is required, the test may take additional time.

    Non-Compliant Samples, Discovered Prior to Testing

    If we discover prior to testing that your samples are non-compliant because you did not follow the collection instructions (e.g. swabs in bag, mouldy swabs, insufficient number of swabs), we will attempt to notify you and ask you whether you would like us to proceed with testing the non-compliant sample or whether you would like to recollect your sample.

    If you choose to proceed and test the non-compliant sample, there is no guarantee regarding the quality of the results or whether any results can be obtained. The results will be reported “as is”. There will be a R2000 charge per person if a resample or retest is required.

    If you choose to recollect the sample before the testing has begun, the replacement kit is R100 (plus shipping), and will allow you to repeat the sample collection.

    If we do not have an email on file for you, or if we do not receive a response from you within 2 days after a notification is posted to your account online, we may opt to proceed with testing the non-compliant sample under the terms specified above.

    Non-Compliant Samples, Discovered After Testing Has Been Completed

    If we find out during or after testing has been completed that your sample is non-compliant because you did not follow the instructions or if the samples have been deliberately tampered with, the cost for recollection and retesting of a new sample is R2000 plus shipping or booking per sample.

    If you forgot to sign your DNA testing consent form, there is a R330 Processing Fee per individual to send another consent form to you for return by fax or email. The results report cannot be released without a signed consent form for each individual tested.

    Forensic Samples

    Any sample received that is not collected using the swabs provided in our DNA testing kit is considered a forensic sample. The cost for testing forensic samples (i.e. toothbrush, hair, used razor blade, electric razor shavings, body fluid on tissue, blood stains, saliva stains, semen, your own swabs, etc.) is R8000 per sample for the forensic DNA isolation in addition to the cost of the DNA test required. There is no guarantee that the forensic sample will work. If the forensic sample contains sufficient intact DNA, a profile will be obtained. However, if the forensic sample contains an insufficient amount of DNA, degraded DNA, or no DNA at all, then a partial profile or even no profile can be obtained, but the entire cost of the test will still apply.

    Consultation and Expert Testimony

    The charge for consultation is R500 per consultation up to 10 minutes (10 minute minimum charge). Each additional 10 minute package is R500 and must be paid in full prior to the consultation.

    Expert Ph.D. consultation or expert testimony for legally admissible relationship testing for paternity or immigration is R13000/hr per hour (one hour minimum charge).

    Mutations

    Mutations in relationship tests are rare, but are detected in approximately one in 500 individuals. If a mutation is detected in the DNA of an individual tested, it may sometimes not be possible to obtain a conclusive result. The mutation will be indicated in the results report and the report will be issued “as is”. In the case of a motherless paternity test, you have the option to add the mother to the test for R2000 to increase the resolution of the test. If the child is male, you will also have the option to order a Y-DNA test for the alleged father and alleged son to see if they likely descended from the same paternal lineage.

    Incorrect Shipping Address Submitted by Client for Testing Kit

    If an incorrect address was provided by the client in the order form and the kit must be re-delivered as a result of the incorrect address provided, the cost is R100 for the replacement kit plus shipping.

    Incorrect Shipping Address by Client for Results Report

    If an incorrect address was provided by the client in the order form for the delivery of the results report and the report must be re-delivered as a result of the incorrect address provided, the cost is R500 for the replacement private report plus shipping or R8000 for the replacement legal report plus shipping.

    Methods of Payment Accepted

    The following methods of payment are accepted:

    Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Diners and JCB

    Cost of Testing

    The cost of the testing is set at the time of the order. Additional testing at a later date will be at the current rate on the date of the additional order.

    By submitting a sample for analysis, the customer warrants that it has the right to take and submit such samples for DNA testing and that it provides our laboratory with authorization to conduct the DNA testing on the samples. By submitting a sample for testing you warrant that either you are the owner of the sample or have full authority by the owner of the sample to submit the sample for testing. Minors must have approval and consent from their legal guardian.

    No Return of DNA Sample Under Any Circumstances

    Once a DNA sample is submitted to the laboratory, it will be consumed and/or securely destroyed. The sample will not be returned to the submitter under any circumstances.