INDIVIDUALS seeking confirmation of their genealogy could now avail the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing at the Mega Laboratory in the Davao Regional Crime Laboratory Office (RCLO 11), the first in Mindanao.

RCLO Regional Director Mary Grace Mag-Abo said during the AFP-PNP press briefing Wednesday, February 13, at The Royal Mandaya Hotel that their office usually receives inquiry on paternity test.

If the testing is crime-related, it is free but for private individuals, it costs P20,000 per sample. For instances, the father will pay P20,000 for the processing of his DNA sample and another for the mother and the child.

The RCLO 11 chief said that it is cheaper compared to the DNA laboratory in private hospitals which is double their rate.

Samples that could be used for DNA testing are blood, buccal swab, blood tissue, bones and hair with its roots but the most common and easier is the mouth swab.

The testing has four steps which include sampling, extraction, amplification and then analysis. The whole set up is worth P48 million. With this, DNA samples, especially those they get in the crime scenes no longer have to be sent to Camp Crame as they are now capable of doing the procedure here.

She underscored that the result is confidential and that after 30 working days, the result will be known.

If the daughter or son is minor, there should be consent first from the mother of the child, otherwise, they will not perform the DNA testing.