Another reminder of your DNA Testing privacy.
At IDENTIGENE we take our customers’ privacy very seriously. To some people it may seem that we may do this to the point of excess. Most people do not require many aspects of our protection. But the problem is we cannot pick and choose who needs a case password or who we can speak to based on one participant’s word over the phone or via email. There have been many cases where someone, whether a participant or no, wanted information that was not theirs to ask for.
An recent example of what I am speaking of. I answer all email sent through our online form. I received an email from a gentleman who wanted more information about the status of his case. I advised him I would have to first verify his case password. He replied with his password. However, when the reply came the header showed a different name, and this name was not listed on the case as a participant.
Our policies state that we cannot give any case information to anyone not listed on the case. Because, I could not truly verify this gentleman’s identity I was not able to provide him with any case information. I advised him that he is more than welcome to contact our client support group for more information. Looking at this from his perspective I can see how this may be frustrating and inconvenient.
However, it is my job to look at this from all perspectives. While the individual emailing could provide the password I could not verify that they had the right to any information pertaining to this case. The biological mother in this case, who was tested, has the right to have her and her child’s privacy protected.
My concern in this particular case was that the alleged father’s significant other had located the password and thought that by emailing I would give her case info or even results. So, for those who would like to email for case status. Please be advised that if you want information about your case you will need to use your own email address and not that of a friend or significant other.
I hope that everyone reading this can understand our perspective. Paternity Tests and the results that are produced from them are senstive to those being tested. We must do everything we can to protect every person in these cases even if they do not want our protection. I apologize if it makes anything inconvenient for anyone being tested, but to me it beats the alternative.
