Status of Children Regulation 2022

After the Sample Is Taken

• The sample must be immediately placed into a new, tamper-evident container (one that visibly shows if it's been opened)
• The container is labelled with the person's name, sex, date of birth, and the time/date of collection — written in ink and signed by both the sampler and the responsible person
• The sampler must also complete a formal written statement and attach one of the photos to it

Getting the Sample to the Lab

• Samples must be stored and transported in a way that preserves their integrity — so the test results are the same as if tested immediately
• Certain tests have strict time limits: blood grouping tests must be done within 6 days; tissue typing within 3 days; DNA typing within a 'reasonable time'

The Final Report

• The lab must prepare an official report, which must be signed by the person who ran the test (or supervised it) and the nominated reporter

Why Does This Matter?

These rules exist to ensure that when a court orders parentage testing, the results are reliable, tamper-proof, and trustworthy. Mistakes or shortcuts in the process could mean wrong conclusions about who is — or isn't — a child's legal parent, with major consequences for custody, inheritance, and legal status.

This 2022 regulation replaces an older 2012 version of the same rules, with any references in old documents to the 2012 regulation now applying to this new one.