In considering DNA testing companies, make sure the lab is CLIA approved.  This means it meets or exceeds federal guidelines established in 1988.

Called the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment, the law requires testing labs to meet proficiency and quality control minimums.

The Health Care Financing Authority, or HCFA, requires an onsite inspection every two years.  Even though there is no specialty for genetics, every certified lab will be reviewed for quality control, test proficiency, documentation and personnel.   The CLIA is currently considering whether there should be a genetic specialty included within the law.

One of the most common uses for DNA is to determine a medical condition that runs in families.  In this case, families often need counseling in addition to the genetic information.  A reputable DNA testing company will offer resources to help people cope with the information they receive.

One of the most popular reasons to seek DNA testing for medical purposes occurs when a woman is pregnant.  If she is older than 35 at the time of delivery her chances of having a child with birth defects increases.

If there is a known illness in the family the parents to be can learn if their unborn child has the disease.  Sometimes the mother has been exposed to hazardous materials and she fears deformity for her baby.  If the mother has had two or more miscarriages she might consider genetic testing.  And finally, if the relationship between the two parents is biologically close, a DNA test will determine if deformity will be a result.

A DNA test is also used among adolescents and adults to screen for mental retardation or for a family history of certain kinds of cancers.

No matter the purpose of seeking these results, CLIA accredited DNA testing companies are a good place to start.