The saliva samples have been sent to the University of Bristol which is licensed by the Human Tissue Authority.
A sample of DNA has been extracted and stored securely and anonymously for research about genes in the future.
The saliva samples were destroyed once the DNA sample was extracted.
We will test the samples to make sure that the collection process has gathered enough saliva that the DNA extraction and storage procedure has successfully produced high-quality DNA samples. Your family’s name and address were not attached to the saliva samples. The laboratory will not have access to any of your personal information.
The DNA samples will be stored securely and anonymously and treated in strict confidence in accordance with the Data Protection Act, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), and the Human Tissue Act. We will use an anonymous identifier to match your genetic information to your study responses. Any researchers using the DNA samples in the future will not have access to your family’s name and address or any other personal details that could identify individuals in the study.
Researchers will only be allowed to use the samples at the specialist storage facility or at another similar laboratory, which may be outside the UK. If researchers need us to send samples to another laboratory, we may charge them for the cost of transportation.