Genetrack Biolabs review – Private and legal DNA tests?

Genetrack Biolabs Review Summary

Genetrack Biolabs is a genetic testing service offering both private and legal tests to determine relationship. Learn more in our Genetrack Biolabs review!

Fiyin Ebemidayo, B.S.

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Summary

Genetrack Biolabs offers paternity and other relationship determining tests, including immigration tests, that are close to 100% accurate. The price is reasonable, although there are additional fees at the collection site for the legal tests. The selection is limited to paternity and similar testing options.

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7 Facts from our GeneTrack Biolabs Review

  1. Location: Vancouver, Canada
  2. Products: Peace of mind and legal paternity, maternity, sibling grandparentage, aunt/uncle, twin, and ancestry tests
  3. Cost: $99-$730 
  4. Reports: Full genetic reports on whether a child has a biological relationship with another individual
  5. How it works: Register an account with GeneTracks Biolabs. Choose your test and make payment. Receive the test and provide a sample. Mail back to the lab. Get results from 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the test.
  6. Upload option: Yes
  7. Alternative Products: Nebula Genomics offers 30X Whole Genome Sequencing that decodes 100% of your DNA and offers reports on diet and much more!

This review is written with the intent to be as unbiased as possible. However, it represents the opinion of an individual reviewer and is therefore subjective. Furthermore, at Nebula Genomics we seek to educate the public about the benefits of Whole Genome Sequencing. Information about our Whole Genome Sequencing DNA test is therefore incorporated into the review.

March 29, 2022

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Test results are very easy to understand
  • Both private and legally admissible test options available
  • Comprehensive and highly accurate test analyses
  • Additional options if the parents are deceased or missing

Cons

  • Focuses mostly on parents and relative-related tests
  • Finding the test costs may be a bit complicated for clients

Genetrack Biolabs Introduction

Genetrack is a genetic testing company that provides top-quality DNA testing services to private patients, government organizations, legal counsel, and healthcare providers. Their DNA service focuses on tracking people’s roots or ancestry, finding the truth about customers’ paternity or maternity, and providing them with DNA immigration testing. Customers can use tests for DNA identity testing and medical testing for personal and court use.

Genetrack Biolabs homepage
Genetrack Biolabs homepage

June Wong, a neuroscientist from Hong Kong who got her neuroscience Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia, founded Genetrack Biolabs in 1998. It is based in Vancouver, Canada. The company is a significant genome platform that uses state-of-the-art technology to provide premium DNA service.

It has over 4000 collection facilities across the U.S. and estimates that it processes over 100,000 cases annually that are CAP, ISO 17025, and AABB accredited. It is also a supplier of immigration testing for the US Department of Justice (Legacy INS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 

The company claims to provide premium DNA testing services using the highest standards in laboratory testing, with the latest technology, strictest quality control and unprecedented service and reliability. Genetrack is also the trusted name for these services in North America and has one of the largest DNA testing facilities. 

Looking for more information on your family? Nebula Genomics offers affordable Whole Genome Sequencing that decodes 100% of your autosomal DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and the Y chromosome. Whole Genome Sequencing will enable you to learn more about your ancestry, family connections, and health than any other product! Click here to learn more!

Review of GeneTrack Biolabs Products

Genetrack Biolabs focuses on providing individuals and organizations from both the private and government sectors with comprehensive DNA tests that are extremely accurate. The company also supplies immigration tests to government agencies.

It is one of the few organizations who offer tests for both personal and legal use. It should be noted that there is no difference in accuracy between the personal and legal tests. Sample collection is the only difference. 

To be permissible in legal cases, a third party must collect the sample to maintain the chain of custody through certain witnessing and verification steps. Genetrack offers a court admissible home test kit with instructions on how to complete the chain of custody or the legal test conducted by an appointment for sample collection.

DNA Paternity Test

This DNA test is very accurate with a 99.9% probability of paternal inclusions and 100% probability of exclusions. Customers can take it with or without the DNA sample of the mother. The company runs each test twice to ensure accuracy and compares the DNA pattern of the alleged father and child to know if they are biologically related. Results are available within 1-3 business days.

Details of the Genetrack Biolabs paternity test
DNA paternity test

DNA Maternity Test

Customers can use this DNA test to determine the biological mother of a child. This test is useful in cases of adoption reunification and IVF, when a mother wants confirmation of a biological relationship. Results are available within 3-5 business days.

DNA Sibling Test

Customers can use this DNA test to determine the biological relationship between siblings in situations where they could be half-siblings, full siblings, or not related to each other. The DNA sibling test is the best option to determine the biological relationship between siblings when the parents are deceased or missing. If the parents are available, the company recommends a maternity or paternity test as it is more accurate than the DNA sibling test. Results are available within 3-5 business days.

DNA Grandparentage Test

Customers can use this DNA test to determine the biological relationship between a grandfather/grandmother and a grandchild in a situation where the child’s father is unavailable for paternity testing. The DNA Grandparentage test helps determine if the grandparent is biologically related to a grandchild. Results are available within 3-5 business days.

Details of the Genetrack Biolabs DNA Grandparentage test
Details of the DNA Grandparentage test

DNA Aunt/Uncle Test

Customers can use this DNA test to determine the biological relationship between an aunt/uncle and a niece/nephew. This is the best option for proving paternity/maternity when the child’s parent is deceased or missing. The company recommends the use the paternity/maternity test over this one if the alleged parents are available as they are more accurate than the aunt/uncle test. Results are available within 3-5 business days.

DNA Twin Test

The DNA twin test helps determine if a set of twins are fraternal twins or identical twins. Fraternal twins share about 50% of their DNA profile, while identical twins share the same DNA. People of any age can take this test, even newborns. Results are available within 3-5 business days.

DNA Immigration Test

The US Embassy and US citizenship and immigration services have officially approved Genetrack Biolabs to conduct. DNA testing for immigration casework. To start the process, you must first submit a copy of your US Embassy or USCIS letter to Genetrack Biolabs. You would have to provide the full legal names of all participants, their date of birth, phone numbers, mailing address, and home addresses. Then Genetrack Biolabs will arrange for the sample collection of all participants after payment. Results are available within 1-3 business days.

DNA Ancestry Test

This DNA ancestry test is used to help trace your maternal and paternal lineage. The test comes in two types: mtDNA sequencing and Y-DNA STR marker. The mtDNA sequencing helps to trace your maternal lineage. Males and females can use the mtDNA test to trace their maternal ancestry with the help of the mitochondrial DNA in the maternal line. This allows you to find out the biological relationship between you and another individual or check a global database to find your maternal relative.

The Y-DNA STR marker helps to trace your paternal lineage. The Y-DNA STR test allows only males to trace their paternal ancestry because all males in the paternal line carry the Y-DNA. This will enable you to determine the biological relationship between you and another male or check a global database to find your paternal relatives.

Review of Taking a Genetrack Biolabs Test

Through Genetrack Biolabs, you can order the kit as either a private or legal DNA test with any of the major credit cards. The company ships private kits directly to your home. Customers follow the instructions on how to collect a buccal (cheek swab kit) sample and send it back to the lab. The company can ship the kit to more than one address if the child and other individual to be tested live in different cities. Customers simply state the details while checking out.

Genetrack Biolabs paternity DNA testing options
Genetrack paternity DNA testing options

For legal tests, the samples a third party at a designated collection and testing facility must collect the sample to maintain the chain of custody. Customers can make appointments on the company website and complete collections at different times and locations if needed.

Review of Genetrack Biolabs Cost

Each test varies in cost. Generally, the legal tests are more expensive than the private use ones. The company also charges customers of the legal tests an additional specimen collection and witnessing charge of $50 for each individual. This charge increases to $100 if the samples are collected overseas. It charges an additional $25 if the samples from a single case are in different locations.

The DNA paternity test costs $99 for the private test and $230 for the legal test (plus the additional fees noted above). The DNA maternity, sibling, grandparentage, aunt/uncle, and twin tests cost $150 for the private tests and $255 for the legal tests. You can also add more children to each test for an additional price.

The Standard Paternal or Maternal ancestry packages cost $119 each, or you can bundle them for $238. 

The prices for the immigration tests are not publicly available.

Review of Genetrack Biolabs Reports

The above test is a paternity report concerning an alleged parent and child. All results include the full genetic report. The top of the report lists the child and alleged parent’s names and the conclusion of the test. That is, the report will clearly state the relationship between the two individuals tested.

Sample of a DNA paternity test
Sample of a DNA paternity test

The remainder of the report shows which loci on the chromosomes were compared to come to this conclusion. Four columns are displayed: The DNA locus, the child’s result, the alleged relation’s result, and an index showing how related the two individuals are. As an example, the paternity test compares 15 different DNA loci.

Review of Genetrack Privacy

Genetrack has put measures to help protect customers’ information from unauthorized access on the website. 

The company only shares their customer information with their agent and contractors for their service. These individuals help the company protect users’ information and use them only for the service that the company renders. Genetrack claims to enforce strict privacy controls for all DNA testing accounts.

The company promises that any personal information obtained will only be used for the services requested. You can revoke your consent to use your personal information at any time by contacting customer service. 

Strict procedures are in place to safeguard personal information both online and at testing sites. Personal information provided online is only used to process and confirm your order and to contact you about your order. The company does not share your information with third parties. It will only release your information to comply with legal warrants.

Nebula Genomics

Genetrack Biolabs offers tests for parents and relatives identification. ancestry reports, and immigration. This makes it a great choice for individuals who are seeking to answer a specific question regarding a child’s biological relatives. The ancestry test is a basic analysis for those interested in their maternal and paternal lineages. 

However, it is important to note that its tests are limited, and customers who may want to know a bit more about their genetics may not get the answer they need. Or, after taking a relative test, you or your child may want to find out more about your genetics.

Nebula Genomics offers 30x Whole-Genome Sequencing to provide full and accurate information on a person’s DNA. The testing method makes it one of the few standouts globally that provide extremely comprehensive analyses of a person’s entire genome. Patients can learn about their susceptibility to life-threatening conditions and get updated on the latest scientific research with the company’s regular report updates. You can also explore more about your ancestry with deep ancestry reporting using the Y chromosome and mtDNA analysis.

Nebula Genomics whole-genome sequencing is affordable. You can Sequence 100% of your DNA costs $299 or less.

Genetrack BiolabsNebula Genomics
DNA testing methodRelative comparisons to establish relationshipsSequences all 20,000 genes and regulatory regions
Ancestry reportingYesPerforms deep ancestry reporting with the complete Y chromosome and mtDNA sequencing
DNA uploadNoYes
Data accessNoYes
Report for making medical decisionsNoNo, but data is of the highest quality and can be used by physicians and genetic counselors
Cost $99-$730$0, $99, $299

Did you like our Genetrack Biolabs review? You can read more reviews on our blog and check out our complete guide to the best DNA test kit and other home tests.

Other companies

You may also be interested in Taking a DNA test while pregnant or, if you’re looking for other paternity tests, you should read these other reviews:

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