• Why choose NorthGene?
• History
• Accreditations
• Court Approved Testing
• Ethical Practice

Ethical Practice

NorthGene takes the responsibility of offering a relationship testing service very seriously. We follow the Voluntary Code of Practice and Guidance on Genetic Paternity Testing Services published by the Department of Health and keep up to date on the ethical issues surrounding such testing.

In compliance with the Human Tissues Act 2004 no DNA test will be carried out without the consent of each person involved or, in the case of under 16 year olds, the consent of a legal guardian.

We do not carry out DNA testing on children without the consent of their mother. All leading relationship testing companies in the UK support the Voluntary Code of Practice on so-called “motherless testing”. The reason for this policy is that most people feel that a mother should know if her child is being tested.

In cases of paternity we aim to act in the best interests of the child/children involved and therefore we will not carry out pre-natal testing.