Maternal lineage. Mitochondrial DNA

Samples from individuals to determine if they belong to the same maternal lineage, such as maternal aunt – nephew/niece, etc.

The type of sample can be any material likely to contain DNA, such as swabs with buccal epithelial cells, hair (which may not have roots, cut hair, or even gray hair), nails, cigarette butts, toothbrushes, chewing gum, items with fluids, baby teeth, umbilical cord, cadaveric remains, etc.

There are several procedures available. Choose the one that best suits your needs.

• Visit the LabGenetics facilities. Our staff will collect samples through an anonymous oral swab (no need for identification).
• Visit one of our partner centers if you are not in Madrid. Contact LabGenetics, and we will inform you of the nearest partner center.
• Request a sample collection kit from us. We will send it to the address you provide. Requesting the sample collection kit requires payment for the test at the same time. The kit contains precise usage instructions. Once the samples are collected, you must send them to us by certified and urgent mail or courier. Shipping costs are your responsibility.
• Collect the samples yourself without needing a kit. To do this, follow the procedure for each participant in the test:

Rub the inner right cheek of the mouth with a cotton swab (on both ends) for approximately 30 seconds. Using another swab, repeat the same procedure on the inner left cheek. Then it is VERY IMPORTANT to let both swabs air-dry at room temperature in a protected place for at least 1 hour. After this time, handling the samples as little as possible, place each person’s swabs in a properly labeled paper envelope (e.g., child, alleged father, alleged mother, etc.).

If the samples you have were collected indirectly (nails, hair with roots, cigarette butts, blood stains, semen, etc.), place the samples in separate, well-labeled envelopes. It is important to handle the samples carefully to ensure their integrity, avoiding touching the areas likely to contain biological residues.

Once you have collected and properly labeled the samples, download and complete the request form. Finally, send us the samples and the completed request form by certified and urgent mail or courier. Shipping costs are your responsibility.

• If you wish to perform this test with judicial validity, the individuals involved must visit our facilities or any of our partner centers (distributed nationwide) where they can have their samples collected. Contact us, and we will direct you to the nearest partner center. To perform the sample collection and complete the chain of custody, participants must provide:
  • ID or passport
  • For minors, a recent photograph (essential) and a photocopy of the family book or legal authorization proving parental authority over the minor (recommended).
• The partner center will be responsible for sending us the samples along with all the necessary documentation (request form, chain of custody, photocopies of participants’ documents, etc.).

In order for LabGenetics to send you the report with the results of your test, payment must be made in advance using one of the following methods:

• Payment gateway when requesting the kit
• Bank transfer (to the account number indicated on the request form)
• Credit card
• Credit card or cash at our San Sebastián de los Reyes facilities
• Cash on delivery of the results, with an additional charge of €20

Your DNA analysis results will be ready within approximately 10 to 15 business days from receipt of the samples. You will receive your report, completely confidential, through the medium you prefer (as indicated previously on the request form):

• Email
• Regular mail
• Courier service, with an additional charge of €15
• In-person collection at our San Sebastián de los Reyes facilities, upon identification of the person requesting the test

LabGenetics is certified with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015. Additionally, we meet all technical and methodological requirements necessary to achieve accreditation under the UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard for Forensic Genetics testing.

The confidentiality of all services provided by LabGenetics is absolute. We comply with Organic Law 3/2018, of December 5, on the Protection of Personal Data and guarantee of digital rights, and our databases are registered with the Spanish Data Protection Agency for greater control and security.

The professionals at LabGenetics are accredited as Judicial Experts by the Official College of Biologists of the Community of Madrid. Therefore, if necessary, they are available to attend any court in Spain to validate reports issued with judicial validity.
Our experts are qualified to provide scientific-technical advice and to assist in legal proceedings as judicial experts for the validation of expert reports based on DNA evidence.