What chain of custody means

Chain of custody is a written record showing who each sample came from, who handled it, and how it travelled to the laboratory — with no unaccounted gaps.

What it involves

  • Photo identification checked and recorded for every adult donor
  • Collection performed by a trained, independent collector
  • Samples sealed, labelled and signed in the donor's presence
  • Tamper-evident packaging and tracked transport
  • Receipt logged by the accredited laboratory partner

Why self-collection cannot qualify

If nobody independently verified whose cheek was swabbed, the report cannot prove whose DNA was analysed — regardless of how accurate the laboratory work is.

Practical implication

Decide early. A personal test cannot be retroactively documented as a legal one.

General information only; not legal advice.