A DNA result can be scientifically flawless and still be rejected by a court. The reason is almost always the same: the chain of custody was not maintained.
What chain of custody actually means
Chain of custody is an unbroken, documented record of everyone who handled the sample — from collection through to analysis. It proves the sample analysed truly belongs to the person identified.
What a defensible process requires
- Verified government photo identification for each participant
- Photograph capture at the point of collection
- Independent witness attestation
- Sealed, tamper-evident transport
- Documented custody at every handover
Embassy and immigration requirements
UK, US, Canadian and Schengen missions each set specific documentary requirements for family reunification DNA testing. Our chain-of-custody process is designed to satisfy them, but always confirm the current requirements with your specific mission.