AOA’s Scientific Testing Lab: DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC)

DDCSince 2010, ARI has utilized one of the largest DNA testing facilities in the world for DNA and BVDV testing. DDC has surpassed our expectations especially in the realm of customer service. Their staff truly views ARI and the alpaca industry as a partner, and they have consistently shown a willingness to enhance testing and add new services. Because scientific testing has been so crucial to the alpaca industry, and indeed to your own breeding program, we wanted to tell you a little bit about DDC.

DDC testing facilityDDC is a global DNA testing service provider headquartered in Fairfield, Ohio, a suburb north of Cincinnati. Formerly known as Molecular Diagnostics Center, this laboratory has been providing quality genetic testing since 1988. In 1994, the Center moved to its current location and was renamed DNA Diagnostics Center. It has field operations in several U.S. locations and a European headquarters in London, England. DDC’s core DNA testing businesses encompass family relationship testing, forensics, veterinary, and human genetics.

DDC is one of the largest DNA testing facilities in the world having performed genetic tests for clients from all 50 states and over 168 countries. DDC employs over 200 laboratory staff and customer service personnel, and performed approximately 500,000 DNA tests in 2012 alone! Specific to private paternity testing, DDC is the world’s largest, most-recommended DNA laboratory. Trusted by hospitals, doctors, and attorneys, DDC is referred by more medical and legal professionals than all other DNA paternity testing companies combined for legally defensible results.

Utilizing ABI genetic analyzers and state-of-the-art robotic systems, DDC has the most advanced laboratory technology for performing DNA parentage testing and profiling, allowing for the highest efficiency and workload capability. DDC has implemented a quality assurance program that exceeds the standards and guidelines set forth by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), International Standards Organization (ISO), and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). These outside regulatory agencies, which perform on-site inspections of the laboratory facilities, have recognized DDC’s emphasis on quality testing. In the past sixteen inspections, DDC has received “zero deficiency” assessments. DDC is the only DNA laboratory to achieve 16 perfect inspection ratings!

DDC’s veterinary division is housed in the same facility as its human testing laboratory and follows the same strict procedures, ensuring that DDC’s testing standards exceed those of other animal testing laboratories. ARI benefits from this attention to state-of-the-art and quality testing.

In 2008, the Rotary Club recognized DDC with the 2008 Business Ethics Award, which was based on criteria such as ethical leadership, concern for the customer, integrity in business practices, respect for customer and employee, and customer and employee loyalty. ARI can heartily echo the same sentiments for DDC that the Rotary expressed, for our experience has consistently shown that their attention to our specific needs, the rigors of their parent validation and BVDV procedures, and the excellent customer service have been extremely rewarding for the ARI and its members.