What's New at Orchid: Current Press Release

Orchid Biosciences, Inc. is the largest private DNA forensic testing service provider in the world.  Its primary services are to provide forensic and paternity testing and public health and animal DNA testing for food safety.  Its staff of forensic scientists has developed cutting-edge technology in the field of DNA profiling that is sought after by many private and public authorities around the world.  Orchid is a leading developer in improved technologies for genetic analysis and higher growth DNA testing services, having entered the field of private forensic DNA analysis in 1987.  It is also a leader in “pharmacogenomics,” personalized medicine or the matching of a person’s genetic makeup with known drug responses in order to find the best drug treatment for a patient. 

Orchid is listed on the NASDQ (ORCH) and since May 24, 2004, has been chosen to be a part of the NASDQ Biotechnology Index (NBI).  It has offices in six major U.S. cities and in the U.K.  Its laboratory is one of the few accredited by the prestigious American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation (ASCLD/LAB), by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), and one of the first to be accredited by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO Standard 17025), which sets the highest standards globally for controlled testing methods and practice and trained personnel.

Orchid's DNA testing and forensic services, provided through its genescreen division have been contracted by the law enforcement authorities in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, Houston and Scotland Yard in the U.K.  Orchid’s DNA testing services were relied upon in such famous cases as those of O.J. Simpson, Jon Benet Ramsey, Danielle Van Dam, the Unabomber and the Green River murderer.  The Smithsonian Institution recently placed materials from Orchid’s DNA analysis in the O.J. Simpson case in its National Anthropological Archives, the first time in this institution’s history that DNA-related material has been added to its collection.  Orchid has also donated forensic services to the Innocence Project of Cardozo Law School to identify convicted innocent prisoners.

The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office collaborated with Orchid in order to use Orchid’s newly developed SNP technology to identify many of the victims of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack.  This innovative technology allows DNA identification with degraded or miniscule samples of DNA. 

Orchid is also a recognized leader in DNA testing overseas.  The governments of Norway, the U.K. and New Zealand have contracted with Orchid to provide immigration identity testing for biological relationships between migrants and sponsors in their countries.  Under its Cellmark brand, Orchid is one of the largest providers of paternity and relationship testing in Europe, and it is a major supplier of genotyping services for the governments of Ireland and the U.K. in their National Scrapie Plan projects, through which farmers can develop heartier livestock.

Orchid is also no stranger to international adoption.  The government of Guatemala has contracted with Orchid to provide DNA testing services for prospective adoptees and the birth parent(s) surrendering them in order to ensure appropriate placements.  Orchid is excited to participate with the Center in the formation and maintenance of the Kinsearch Registry to facilitate the identification of biological family members of adoptees and children from donor reproduction and promises to bring the best technology available to the Registry’s mission.