FAQs for Facilities Seeking Accreditation in Relationship Testing

Is accreditation required for Relationship Testing?

Accreditation for Relationship Testing is voluntary in the United States. However, many state laws require AABB accreditation for any test reports to be used in legal proceedings.

DNA testing intended for visa, passport and citizenship testing cases for the United States will be accepted only if the case is initiated directly between the petitioner and a facility that is accredited by AABB for relationship testing activities. (U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual can be found at https://fam.state.gov/.

Does the facility need a laboratory director?

Yes, facilities are required to have a director with a doctoral degree in medical, biological, clinical laboratory science or genetics and has at least two years of training or experience in relationship testing.

Alternatively, facilities can be led by a technical leader qualified to the current FBI quality assurance standards for forensic DNA testing laboratories and currently employed in a forensic lab accredited to those standards may serve as the AABB laboratory director in that lab under the RT Standards.

Often, smaller laboratories, or those seeking accreditation, contract with an off-site director to meet this qualification and give existing staff the necessary two-year training and experience. AABB can assist in connecting facilities to a laboratory director if needed.

Does the laboratory director need to be on-site?

The laboratory directory is not required to physically work in the facility and may perform duties remotely. However, the laboratory director retains ultimate authority for the technical operations of the accredited facility.

Does the facility need an on-site laboratory?

No, an on-site laboratory is not required. The testing can be performed at another AABB-accredited facility.

What activities are covered in the scope of accreditation?

• Collection: The controlled process for obtaining a sample for relationship testing, including but not limited to: client scheduling and instruction, consent, identification, sampling, chain-of-custody documentation and secure transport to the testing laboratory.
• Testing: The laboratory portion of a controlled process for DNA analysis and interpretation for the purposes of human relationship testing.
• Verification: Confirmation by examination and provision of objective evidence that specified requirements have been met. This includes review of the case and confirmation that it meets both AABB and customer requirements before release to the client.

What types of facilities are eligible for accreditation?

Eligibility for AABB accreditation under the Relationship Testing (RT) activity is determined by the activities performed by the facility. A Relationship Testing facility may be accredited for one of the following:

• All Relationship Testing activities, including sample collection, testing, verification and reporting
• Relationship Testing activities – collection and verification/reporting only.

How does a new facility meet the experience requirements for AABB accreditation?

TThe majority of all relationship testing performed is for non-legal purposes. A laboratory seeking accreditation should perform these non-legal cases following the AABB Standards for Relationship Testing Laboratories, including a complete chain-of-custody. These cases may be submitted as representative cases for AABB accreditation.

For a new laboratory seeking accreditation, the tests performed prior to completing the accreditation process and receiving a certificate will not be accepted by immigration offices and most state court systems. So, any cases that may be presented for court and all immigration cases should be referred to an AABB-accredited laboratory.