Forensics
Ampath's forensic services offer comprehensive DNA analysis for legal and investigative purposes. With ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, they ensure high-quality, reliable results for human identification, kinship testing, and crime scene investigations.
About Us
The Forensic Genetics laboratory at Ampath Laboratories provides high-quality, accredited DNA analysis to support human identification and forensic casework in legal, investigative, and humanitarian contexts. As the only private laboratory in South Africa with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for DNA testing, we apply validated methodologies and rigorous quality control to ensure reproducible and legally defensible results.
Our services encompass a wide range of applications, including kinship and paternity testing, crime scene sample analysis, unidentified remains identification, and quality assurance testing for forensic laboratories. The team comprises experienced forensic scientists and molecular geneticists who work in accordance with international best practices and local regulatory frameworks, ensuring that every case is managed with scientific integrity, confidentiality, and precision.
Paternity/Kinship Testing
Ampath Laboratories offers accredited forensic DNA testing to determine biological relationships in both legal and personal contexts. Our analyses are based on validated genetic methodologies and adhere to strict chain of-custody protocols to ensure results are accurate, confidential, and legally admissible when required.
Our relationship testing services are commonly used in the following scenarios:
Paternity testing – to confirm or exclude the biological relationship between a child and an alleged father
Maternity testing – in cases of adoption, surrogacy, or hospital mix-ups
Sibling testing – to assess whether individuals share one or both biological parents
Grand parentage testing – useful when the alleged parent is unavailable for testing
Avuncular testing – to determine a biological relationship through an aunt or uncle
Immigration and citizenship cases – where proof of a biological relationship is required by authorities
Inheritance or estate claims – to establish rightful beneficiaries in legal matters
Personal reassurance – for individuals seeking clarity about their biological relationships without legal proceedings
Testing can be requested by private individuals, legal professionals, or government agencies, and results are typically available within a standard turnaround time under full confidentiality.:
Victim Identification
Ampath Laboratories provides forensic DNA testing to support the identification of deceased individuals in both routine and complex scenarios. We work in collaboration with forensic pathologists, investigative authorities, disaster response teams, and humanitarian organisations to help establish the identity of unknown remains using validated DNA profiling methods.
Victim identification services are applicable in the following contexts:
Mass fatality incidents – including natural disasters, transport accidents, and conflict zones where conventional identification may not be possible
Unidentified remains – cases where decomposed, skeletal, or unrecognisable bodies are recovered without documentation
Missing persons investigations – aiding in the resolution of long-term missing persons cases through familial DNA matching
Exhumations – assisting with retrospective identification for legal, cultural, or humanitarian purposes
Disaster victim identification (DVI) – supporting formal DVI processes coordinated by government or international agencies
Comparisons are made against reference samples from biological relatives or personal effects (e.g., toothbrushes, hairbrushes), and all testing is performed under ISO/IEC 17025-accredited conditions to ensure accuracy, chain-of-custody integrity, and legal defensibility.
Crime Scene Investigation
Ampath Laboratories provides forensic DNA analysis to assist in the investigation and resolution of criminal cases. We work closely with law
enforcement agencies, forensic pathologists, and legal teams to process biological evidence in accordance with internationally accepted forensic
standards.
Our services can be applied in a range of investigative contexts, including:
Sexual assault cases – identification of DNA from semen, epithelial cells, or other biological fluids
Homicides and violent crimes – analysis of bloodstains, tissue, or touch DNA to link individuals to crime scenes
Property crimes – recovery and profiling of trace DNA from objects such as weapons, clothing, or tools
Exclusions and eliminations – helping to exclude individuals from suspicion based on DNA evidence
Cold case reviews – reanalysis of archived samples using advanced technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS)
All analyses are conducted under ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, using validated STR and NGS-based methods, and supported by full chain-of-custody documentation to ensure admissibility in legal proceedings.
Forensic Genetics Training
Ampath Laboratories' Forensic Genetics Training Centre offers specialised, hands-on training in forensic DNA analysis, designed for professionals working in forensic laboratories, law enforcement, academic institutions, and regulatory agencies. Our training programmes are led by experienced forensic scientists and focus on practical skills, quality assurance, and current technologies, including STR analysis and next-generation sequencing (NGS).
Whether for capacity building, skills development, or continuing professional education, our courses are tailored to meet the evolving needs of the forensic genetics community.
