When it is needed
In inheritance and family situations when the alleged parent has died, is unavailable or cannot provide a sample.
What we examine
- Diagram of the claimed family relationships.
- Information about available relatives.
- Information about previously retained samples.
Materials to prepare
- Description of the examination purpose without excessive personal data.
- Family diagram identifying disputed and undisputed relationships.
- Information about relatives available to participate.
- Information about archived samples and their documents.
Sample questions
- Which relationship hypotheses need comparison?
- Which available participants may be informative for the examination?
- Which family information may affect method selection?
- Are there documents allowing the provenance of retained material to be considered?
- What limitations may arise when examining an incomplete family group?
How the work is carried out
- Clarify the family structure and check whether alternative relationships are fully described.
- Prepare questions for the laboratory about examination possibilities and scope.
- Agree the participant list and lawful procedure for obtaining available materials.
Result
An examination preparation plan listing available options and missing information.
What affects the conclusions
Suitability of archived material is not guaranteed in advance. The feasibility and informativeness of indirect kinship analysis depend on the particular family structure and laboratory data.
Frequently asked questions
Can kinship be examined through siblings?
This is a recognised task. The appropriate specialist assesses whether the participants and methods are sufficient for the particular relationship hypotheses.
Should I obtain archived material myself?
First agree whether the material is needed and how it should be obtained. Storage and provenance information matter for subsequent examination.