The Process

Step One: Those interested in participating in the Registry or finding out more about it should review the information on this website and submit the Request for Application form.

Step Two: Upon receiving the registration packet, participants may review the informational materials and contact the Registry with any questions they may have. Those who are interested in participating should submit a completed Request for Application to the Registry, which will then send them a simple, noninvasive DNA cheek swab kit to gather the participant’s DNA sample.

Step Three: The participant will follow the instructions on the kit to gather the sample and send it back to the Registry. The Registry will encode that sample, identifying it only by number, and send the sample to the DNA lab for testing, comparison and entry into the databank. Participants will be notified when their samples have been successfully tested and entered in the databank and will be sent a DNA identity profile card for safekeeping that identifies and preserves the participant’s unique DNA profile, including a DNA sample for future reference.

Step Four: It is anticipated that matches will be rare and may take years before a blood relative enters the databank and it may be years before a match may be found, if ever. Matched participants may be located anywhere in the world. It is important to note that without the availability of a birth parent’s DNA profile, the matching of siblings by DNA cannot be 100% certain (unless the participants are identical twins). The DNA lab issues a report to matched participants explaining the odds of them being related and determines a match only upon sufficient indicators of a high probability of a blood relationship.

Upon finding matching profiles, the lab notifies the Registry of the matching profiles by number, the Registry determines the identity of those whose profiles were matched and contacts each matched participant for mutual consent to share contact information. Matched participants will also be counseled and assisted in understanding the meaning of the data provided by the DNA lab and in preparing for contacting the matched participant.

The DNA profiles of matched participants will remain in the databank for the possibility of future additional matches. Participants may withdraw from the Registry at any time and their DNA profile will be removed from the databank. Minor participants must have the consent of both of their parents to participate and must consent to continued participation in the Registry upon reaching majority.

DNA PROFILES IN THE REGISTRY WILL BE USED FOR THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE PURPOSE OF BANKING FOR COMPARISON WITH OTHER PARTICPANTS AND NO ACCESS IS PERMITED TO THE DATABANK EXCEPT FOR THIS PURPOSE.