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Guidance
Get laboratory accreditation to carry out
paternity tests
From:
HM Courts & Tribunals Service
First published:
1 October 2014
Applies to:
England and Wales
How to get accredited so your laboratory can perform official paternity tests as instructed by a
court.
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Overview
Apply for accreditation
Additional laboratory requirements
Data protection requirements
See more like this
Overview
Courts can ask for a scientific DNA paternity test to check the parentage of a child if parties
cannot agree on whether a DNA test should be done.
This is done under a Section 20 direction.
Only laboratories on the accredited laboratory list can carry out these tests.
Apply for accreditation
To be included on this list of accredited laboratories, you must be approved by an accreditation
body which complies with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011, formerly ISO Guide 58.
You need to fill in and sign this paternity testing accreditation application (MS Word Document,
46KB) and send it with:



your current original/certified copy of ISO 17025 certificate
your statement of adequacy
(if you’re a non-UK organisation) a certified copy of your certificate showing current
membership of a scheme that meets the requirements of Directive 95/46/EC
It would be useful if you could provide a flow chart along with your application. In it, set out
how a request for a Section 20 test would be processed, from receipt up to when the test results
are sent back to the court. This is not a compulsory requirement.
The use of intermediaries or the use of a travelling sample-taker are not allowed.
Annual reviews ensure the continuing eligibility of each body on the list.
Send to:
Family Operations Team
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
1.42, 1st Floor
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
Email: civil&familybusinesssupport@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk
Your application will be acknowledged within 10 working days of receipt.
Additional laboratory requirements
As well as filling in the application form above, accredited laboratories must also agree to:


comply with the Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971 (as amended) or
any revised versions
comply with requirements about how your accredited status is represented in advertising
or informational material
Data protection requirements
You should only retain personal data for as long as is needed, that is:


6 months for the retention of a DNA sample
12 months for the retention of records created as a result of a Section 20 court-directed
test
You must ensure adequate data protection in accordance with:


Part 1, Paragraph 7 and Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998
Article 5 of the European Commission Directive 95/46/EC
You should attach a statement to your application form setting out how you will achieve this.
Back to contents
Published:
1 October 2014
From:
HM Courts & Tribunals Service
More like this
Related detailed guidance

Paternity testing: approved laboratories
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