ACCREDITATIONS AND EXPERTISE

True or False? A company selling DNA testing services to Canadians must be qualified and accredited?  Answer: FALSE


There is a misconception that companies offering DNA testing services are experts in the field and have met minimum accreditation standards.  The truth is that there is no mandatory regulation that must be met before anyone can sell DNA testing services in North America.  The reality today is that the majority of businesses selling DNA testing services (DNA paternity testing, forensic testing and even immigration testing) are not accredited, and many even subcontract genetic testing services to laboratories outside of Canada. 
Accreditation is the formal verification of an organization's competency to carry out a specific function.  It is the one and only way for a laboratory to give its clients confidence in the quality of the analyses performed, whether it be for forensic DNA testing or paternity testing). Maxxam was the first private DNA laboratory in Canada to make this commitment and on January 31, 2000, Maxxam became the first laboratory in Canada to be accredited under the forensic testing guidelines of the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) to meet ISO17025 requirements.
The process of becoming accredited is rigorous and involves an audit by 3rd party recognized experts. Accreditation standards cover all aspects of a laboratory's operation across 13 assessment categories, which includes an evaluation of quality assurance and expertise of personnel.
Voluntary accreditation is the primary way for a laboratory to demonstrate its commitment to quality and choosing an accredited laboratory is the best way for clients to have confidence in their results.
Maxxam is accredited by two separate accreditation bodies:

• The Standards Council of Canada (SCC), meeting ISO17025 requirements since January 2000. Maxxam undergoes reassessment (on-site) every two years to ensure that our testing, documentation procedures and policies meet international and national standards. Other SCC accredited forensic laboratories include the six Royal Canadian Mounted Police labs located in Canada. 

• Forensic Quality Services – International (FQS-I), for compliance to the national Quality Assurance Standards (QAS) for DNA Analysis issued by the Director of the FBI.  Maxxam undergoes reassessment (on-site) every two years by auditors from FQS who assess all areas of our laboratory including technical testing, evaluation, reporting competencies, along with qualifications of all staff and management.

In addition, each member of Maxxam’s team of forensic scientists has years of valuable experience and significant expertise in their field. Our scientists are often called as expert witnesses in court cases and are active in the development of industry publications and literature.