30 July 2008
An update to the list of companies accredited to carry out court-directed paternity tests.
There has been an update to the list of accredited bodies approved by the Ministry of Justice to carry out court-directed tests for parentage. Eurofins Medigenomix GmbH has now been added to the list
Under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969, in civil proceedings, courts have a statutory power to direct a scientific test to ascertain the parentage of a child (but section 20 directions are not given in every case where parentage is an issue). If the court makes such a 'section 20 direction', they must choose a tester from a list of accredited bodies that we maintain.
Details of how to apply for accreditation, the application form and further background information on court-directed paternity testing are on the HMCS website.
List of bodies that may carry out court-directed parentage tests under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969
The Ministry of Justice is responsible for accrediting bodies which may carry out scientific tests for parentage in accordance with a direction made by a court pursuant to section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969. A list of bodies currently accredited by the Ministry of Justice appears below.
| Name | Address | Telephone | Fax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglia DNA Services Ltd | Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UH | 08454 565365 | 01603 450945 | |
| Barts and The London, Queen Mary University of London | Haematology ICMS, Barts and The London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT | 020 7882 2274 | 020 7882 2183 | |
| Complement Genomics Ltd. (trading as dadcheck ®) | Unit 128i Bioscience Centre, Business and Innovation Centre, Sunderland, SR5 2TA | 0191 516 6500/6632 | 0191 516 6005 | |
| Crucial Genetics | F1 House, Road 4, Winsford Industrial Estate, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 3QN | 0870 88 88 0 88 | 0870 88 88 089 | |
| DNA Diagnostics Ltd | Bioscience Building, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB | 0845 230 1102 | 0845 230 1103 | |
| Eurofins Medigenomix GmbH | Fraunhoferstr 22, D82152, Planegg/Martinsried, Germany | + 49 89 89 98 92 50 | + 49 89 89 98 92 90 | |
| LGC Diagnostics Department | LGC Building, Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 ONJ | 020 8943 8400 | 020 8943 8401 | |
| Orchid Cellmark Ltd | Blacklands Way, Abingdon Business Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 1YX | 01235 528609 | 01235 528141 | |
| The Forensic Science Service Ltd | Sales and Operational Planning Office, Trident Court, 2920 Solihull Parkway, Birmingham Business Park, Birmingham, B37 7YN | 0845 120 7272 | 0121 770 9289 |
Contact us:
Sharon Rowand
Family Relationships Branch 2
Family Law and Justice Division
4th Floor, Selborne House
54-60 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6QW
email 
or telephone 020 7210 2653