| AABB, formerly known as the American Association | | | | the immigration process come to realize that the U.S. |
| of Blood Banks, is the accrediting agency for DNA | | | | Immigration service is extremely difficult to get a |
| testing laboratories worldwide. The AABB Committee | | | | hold of. Your DNA testing company should not be. A |
| for DNA Testing has developed policies and | | | | good DNA lab will follow up with you on a weekly |
| procedures which are implemented by accredited | | | | basis to give you updates on your case. They'll return |
| laboratories. The regulations focus on collection | | | | your inquiries in a timely manner, and do everything |
| procedures, testing procedures, and chain of custody | | | | possible to get the test done quickly. A quality lab will |
| procedures. All court admissible testing as well as all | | | | have the flexibility to meet your time constraints and |
| testing completed for immigration purposes must be | | | | other special needs. |
| done by an AABB accredited lab. There are currently | | | | The final aspect of choosing an AABB lab is price. |
| 43 AABB accredited laboratories worldwide. So which | | | | While the most important factors in DNA cases |
| one should you choose for your Immigration DNA | | | | should be accuracy, turnaround time, and customer |
| Test? There are many factors that should go into | | | | service, price is always important - especially in |
| your decision to choose a DNA lab, but I'll go over | | | | difficult economic times. The petitioner is required to |
| three that may be most important: Turnaround time, | | | | pay the entire testing fee in the United States. This |
| Customer Service, and Price. | | | | fee should include DNA collection in the U.S., shipping |
| Turnaround time is crucial in an Immigration DNA test, | | | | to and from overseas, all testing fees, and the |
| and not all labs operate the same. The immigration | | | | shipment of results. The only fee paid overseas |
| process is long, but a DNA test should not be. In | | | | should be a small collection fee paid to the embassy |
| order to find an AABB accredited lab with a fast | | | | approved physician. Pricing for DNA tests vary widely. |
| turnaround time you should as the following | | | | Make sure the price you are quoted includes all of |
| questions: How long will the process take? What | | | | the factors above. Some AABB labs have hidden |
| shipping method do you use? Are you in | | | | fees. Ask the following questions: Does the price |
| communication with the U.S. Embassy and collection | | | | include all shipping charges? Are all collection fees |
| facility overseas? A good DNA lab will know how long | | | | included? Does the fee include the test results? Are |
| the test will take, will use the fastest shipping | | | | there any other fees? |
| method, and will have relationships with overseas | | | | When it comes time to choose an AABB lab for you |
| embassies and collection facilities. This leads into the | | | | immigration DNA test make sure you ask the right |
| next factor of customer service. | | | | questions. At the end of the day it always helps to |
| Customer service may be the most important factor | | | | use a lab that is referred by a friend or family |
| when choosing an AABB lab. Families going through | | | | member. |