Medical Information

Information Sheet For Genetic (DNA) Testing 

This information sheet is free and can be obtained any Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday during business hours from the U.S. Consulate.

The testing program allows a DNA sample to be collected from the beneficiary in Nigeria and from the petitioner in the United States.

HOW TO PROCEED

The beneficiary is advised to read this information sheet and discuss pursuing DNA testing with the petitioner. If the petitioner and beneficiary both wish to proceed with DNA testing, the beneficiary must complete the agreement on page 2 and return it to the Consulate on any business day except Wednesday at 12 noon.

INFORMATION FOR THE PETITIONER IN THE UNITED STATES

The petitioner must contact a laboratory indicated on the attached list for information concerning the buccal swab DNA testing method. This method (removing a small amount of genetic material from the inside of the mouth) is simple, clean, non-invasive, and provides the same level of accuracy as blood testing. DNA testing for applicants in Nigeria can only be performed with specimens collected using the buccal swab procedure, because blood samples cannot be transported from Nigeria to the United States in a timely fashion. The laboratory in the U.S. must notify the Consulate when the DNA sample has been taken and all fees have been paid. The petitioner must also arrange for the laboratory to send a buccal swab collection kit for each beneficiary to the Consulate in Lagos at one of the following addresses:

U. S. Consulate
8300 Lagos Place
Washington, D.C. 20521-8300
(delivery within 2-3 weeks)

or

Consulate of the United States of America
2 Walter Carrington Crescent,
Victoria Island, Lagos
ATTN: Immigrant Visa Section
(for delivery via courier services)

When test results are available, the originals must be mailed directly to the U.S. Consulate by the U.S. laboratory. The cost of testing and all expenses related to testing are the responsibility of the petitioner and beneficiary.

INFORMATION FOR THE BENEFICIARY IN NIGERIA

Approximately one month after the buccal swab kit has been sent to Lagos, the beneficiary should begin checking with the Consulate to confirm the kit's arrival and to schedule an appointment with a Consulate panel physician. The petitioner and the beneficiary must initiate and pursue the testing procedure and they are responsible for paying all related fees. In Nigeria, all fees must be paid in advance of service.

On the appointment day, the beneficiary must appear in person with two color passport photographs and a valid passport. Failure to produce satisfactory documentation will result in delays. The beneficiary must pay a fee to the panel physician at the time of sample collection. The current fee is 3,000 Naira for up to two applicants, and 1,500 Naira for each additional applicant.

Test samples will be sealed in a secure container for shipment to the United States. The panel physician will receive payment from the beneficiary for courier delivery of the test sample to the selected U.S. laboratory for comparison with the petitioner's sample. The current fee for courier service is 6,430 Naira. In instances where a petitioner has arranged for samples to be collected from several beneficiaries, the courier fee for the shipment of kits may be higher.

If the genetic test results support the claimed relationship, the consular section will invite the beneficiary to the Consulate to notify him/her of the positive results and to complete remaining documentation. If the beneficiary is not otherwise ineligible, an immigrant visa will be issued upon payment of the appropriate fee.

If the genetic test results indicates the claimed relationship does not exist, the petition will be returned to the Immigration and Naturalization Service in the United States accompanied by a recommendation by the consular section that the petition be revoked. The case will be closed and no further documents or evidence will be accepted by the Consulate.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

• Genetic testing is voluntary; 
• DNA testing for applicants in Nigeria can only be performed with specimens collected using the buccal swab procedure; 
• The cost of testing and all expenses relating to testing (such as doctors' fees, mailing fees, purchase of buccal swab testing packages, etc.) are the responsibility of the petitioner and beneficiary and must be paid in advance; 
• The Consulate does not provide refunds for unused DNA kits; 
• For purposes of visa issuance, the Consulate will only accept original genetic test results that have been sent to the Consulate directly by the laboratory conducting the test. This is to ensure all necessary safeguards in conformity with U.S. visa regulations are followed; 
• The Consulate does not assume responsibility for the professional caliber or practice of any of the AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) accredited parentage testing laboratories; 
• Submitting to testing in no way guarantees the subsequent issuance of an immigrant visa; 
• While the genetic test is pending, all other investigations related to the case will be suspended until the testing process is completed; 
• Petitions returned to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in the United States based on negative results may be revoked or denied by the INS. The Consulate reminds all applicants that penalties exist for making false statements in the filing of immigrant visa applications.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SECTION AND RETURN TO THE CONSULATE ON MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY OR FRIDAY AT 12 NOON:

Beneficiary Name (Last, First,Middle):

_________________________________________________________________________________

Passport Number:

__________________________________________________________________

DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE

I have read and understand the contents of this information sheet. I choose to proceed with genetic testing in an effort to prove the relationship claimed in the immigrant visa petition filed on my behalf.

I understand that a negative outcome will result in the immediate return of this petition to the INS, and I may be found ineligible for any future U.S. visas.

I understand that all pending investigations will be suspended while the genetic test is carried out.

______________________________________________Beneficiary's Signature

Signed and sworn before me on (Date) ______________________at Lagos, Nigeria

Consular Officer _______________________________________

ALABAMA:

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Immunogenetics/DNA Diagnostic Laboratory
223 Professional Arts Building
1025 18th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35294-4440
Tel: (800) 499-4363
Tel: (205) 934-7107
Fax: (205) 934-4062

ARIZONA:

Blood Systems, Inc.
6220 East Oak Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85267
(602) 946-4231

CALIFORNIA:

Long Beach Genetics
2384 East Pacifica Place
Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220
Tel: (800) 824-2699
Tel: (310) 632-8900
Fax: (310) 632-9424

Children's Hospital and Health Center
Genetic Services
3020 Children's Way
San Diego, CA 92123
(619) 495-4911

Genetic Profiles Corp.
6122 Nancy Ridge Drive, #205
San Diego, CA 92121
Tel: (800) 551-7763
Tel: (619) 623-0840
Fax: (619) 623-0842

COLORADO:

Analytical Genetic Testing Center, INC.
7808 Cherry Creek South Dr. #2
Denver, CO 80231
(303) 750-2023

The Laboratories at Bonfils
Parentage Testing Laboratory
717 Yosemite Circle, 2nd Floor
Denver, CO 80230
Tel: (303) 365-9000
Fax: (303) 343-6666

CONNECTICUT:

Lifecodes Corporation
550 West Avenue
Stamford, CT 06902
(203) 328-9504

HAWAII:

St. Francis Medical Center
Parentage Testing
2230 Liliha Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 547-6536

LOUISIANA:

ReliaGene Technologies, Inc.
5525 Mounes Street, Suite 101
New Orleans, LA 70123
(504) 734-9700
FAX: (504) 734-9787

MASSACHUSETTS:

University of Massachusetts Medical Center
Tissue Typing Laboratory
55 Lake Avenue, North
Worcester, MA 01655
(508) 856-2428

CBR Laboratories, INC.
Parentage Testing
800 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115-6399
(617) 731-6470

MARYLAND:

Baltimore RH Typing Laboratory Inc.
400 West Franklin Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
(401) 225-9595

MAINE:

Maine Medical Center Research Institute
Immunogentics Laboratory
125 John Roberts Road
Suite 8
South Portland, ME 04106
(207) 761-9090

MICHIGAN:

Lifecodes Corporation
East Lansing Division
Parentage Testing
2947 Eyde Parkway
Suite 110
East Lansing, MI 48823
Tel: (517) 349-3890
Fax: (517) 349-6879

National Legal Laboratories, Inc.
Parentage Testing
2947 Eyde Parkway
Suite 110
East Lansing, MI 48823
Tel: (800) 837-1504
Fax: (517) 349-6879

Sparrow Hospital
Paternity Laboratory
1215 E. Michigan Ave.
Lansing, MI 48909-7980
(517) 483-2515

MINNESOTA:

Memorial Blood Centers of Minnesota
Paternity Testing Laboratory
2304 Park Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN 55404-3789
Tel: (800) 982-9134
Tel: (612) 871-3300
Fax: (612) 872-3689

MISSISSIPPI:

Scales Biological Laboratory, INC.
220 Woodgate Drive, S.
Brandon, MS 39042 (601) 825-3211

MISSOURI:

Cross Clinical Laboratories
527 W. 39th Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
Tel: (816) 960-1930
Fax: (816) 960-0755

NORTH CAROLINA:

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
(Formerly Roche Labs)
1440 York Court Extension
Burlington, NC 27215
Tel: (800) 334-5161, ext. 7333
Tel: (336) 584-5171; ext. 7333
Fax: (336) 538-2263

Duke University Medical Center
Transfusion Services
Box 2928
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-3089

NEW JERSEY:

Clinical Testing and Research, INC.
20 Wilsey Square
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Tel: (201) 652-2088
Fax: (201) 652-2775

NEW MEXICO:

New Immunogenetic Laboratory
Room BRF 227
915 Camino De Salud NE
Albuquerque, NM 87131
(505) 841-1313

NEW YORK:

Suny Health Science Center at Syracuse
Parentage Testing Laboratory
750 E. Adams Street
Syracuse, NY 13210

OHIO:

Medical College of Ohio
Department of Pathology
DNA Profiling Laboratory
3000 Arlington Avenue
P.O. Box 10008
Toledo, OH 43699
Tel: (419) 383-5256
Fax: (419) 383-3066

DNA Diganostics Center
205 Corporate Court
Fairfield, OH 45014
Tel: (513) 881-7800
Fax: (513) 881-7803

Genescreen
5698 Springboro Pike
Dayton, OH 45449
(513) 294-0973

Genetica DNA Laboratories Inc.
8740 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, OH 45236
Tel: (800) 433-6848
Fax: (513) 985-9983

OKLAHOMA:

H. A. Chapman Institute of Medical Genetics
Children's Medical Center
5300 E. Skelly Drive
Tulsa, OK 74135
(918) 628-6363

OREGON:

A.R.C. Blood Service Pacific-N.W. Region
P.O. Box 3200
3131 North Vancouver Avenue
Portland, OR 97208
(503) 280-1449

SOUTH DAKOTA:

Biogenetic Services, INC.
2308 6th Street E.
Brookings, SD 57006
(605) 697-8500

TENNESSEE:

Gene Proof Technologies
187 Graylynn Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
Tel: (800) 844-7851
Tel: (615) 889-0444
Fax: (615) 889-5982

Micro Diagnostics, Inc.
Air Park Center III
1400Donelson Pike
Suite A-15
Nashville, TN 37217
Tel: (615) 360-5000
Tel: (888) 256-6383
Fax: (615) 360-5003
E-Mail: www.microdx.dom

TEXAS:

Identigene
7400 Fannin
Suite 1250
Houston, TX 77054
Tel: 800-362-8973
Fax: (713) 798-9515

University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
DNA Identity Laboratory
3500 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Forth Worth, TX 76107
(817) 735-5014

Genescreen
2600 Stemmons Freeway
Suite 133
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 631-8152

UTAH:

DNA Diagnostic Laboratory
University of Utah
Eccles Genetic Institute
10 North 2030 East
Room 7400
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
(801) 581-8334)

VIRGINIA:

Fairfax Identity Laboratories
Genetics and IVF Institute
3025 Hamaker Court
Suite 203
Fairfax, VA 22031
Tel: (800) 848-DNA
Tel: (703) 698-3919

WASHINGTON:

Genelex Corporation
2203 Airport Way South
Suite 350
Seattle, WA 98134
(206) 382-9591

WISCONSIN:

The Blood Center of South East Wisconsin, Inc.
Parentage Testing Laboratory
1701 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53233
(414) 937-6198

American Red Cross Badger Region
4860 Sheboygan Avenue
P. O. Box 5905
Madison, WI 53705-0905
(608) 233-9300