Orchid Cellmark is a leading international provider of identity genomics services for the forensic and paternity DNA testing markets and for public health and animal DNA testing for food safety. Orchid Cellmark’s strong market presence in these segments leverage the Company’s accredited laboratories in the U.S. and U.K.

Its novel and wide-ranging technologies and long-standing expertise have been associated with exceptional quality, reliability, customer service, and above all, innovation, for more than two decades.

Recognizing the needs of employers worldwide, Orchid Cellmark has added another “first” with the introduction of ID-Secure™.

Capabilities
Orchid Cellmark possesses the ability to handle all types of samples and situations that can arise in the identification of human biological samples using DNA. Orchid has assembled and validated numerous specialized protocols for handling tissues, bones, teeth, and other unusual specimens often seen in cases where environmental impact has taken place.

Orchid Cellmark offers a variety of DNA testing markers from which to choose. This panel of DNA markers includes Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP’s) and mitochondrial DNA markers that are used in cases where degradation of DNA has taken place. Degradation can take place when biological samples are subjected to high temperatures, moist conditions or bacterial contamination.

1987 - First forensic cases tested in UK and US laboratories

1991 - First forensic DNA laboratory to use Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for human identification of casualties in the Gulf War

1999 – Orchid Cellmark begins processing casework with the STR fluorescent detection system that uses the 13 CODIS loci that the FBI has designated as the standard in the forensic DNA community

2002 - Innovative collaboration to develop Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)-based genotyping tests to identify the large number of 9/11 World Trade Centre victims for whom conventional identification methods have failed

2003 - Awarded scene-of-crime forensic DNA testing services for New Scotland Yard in London

2004 – Became sole provider of DNA profiling services to two of the largest global contractors working in Iraq and Afghanistan.