Interview with Dr. Frank Pfannenschmid, General DelphiTest GmbH Germany

– Hello Sir. Dr. Frank Pfannenschmid and thank you accepted our interview.
– Hello.

– Genetics has developed in recent years a new product: a paternity test.
– Is very real and have spread widely throughout the world.

– What can you say about DelphiTest GmbH?
– I started this business 7 years ago. At first we focused on projects and scientific services in the field of genetics. Primarily, our clients were from universities, health departments and pharmaceutical companies in Germany. In 2001 we began offering paternity testing by private clients. So DelphiTest GmbH was founded.

– It was difficult early business?
– Of course. Germany is known for its high taxes and difficult to fund from the beginning. Three big problems we had at that time: financing laboratory equipment are quite expensive, finding the best employees (all of our employees are specialized in molecular biology at universities in Germany) and, last but not least, finding new customers every day and strengthen our market position.

– Where is DelphiTest today?
– We are one of the most successful company in Germany to offer paternity testing. Our customers not only in Germany, they are worldwide.

– What can you tell about your lab?
– Our laboratory is located in Regensburg, Germany. Many paternity tests are offered by companies which have their own laboratory, nor the necessary training or competence. Unfortunately, most of their clients have no way to know which laboratory test care of them. There are many offers “cheap” market. Many of these companies have outdated equipment and uses outdated methods. Consequently, the results are not reliable and would not move any German standards of quality control. German laboratories are the best in terms of quality control, employee training and safety factor. We are members of “VALID eV”, an institution that adheres to strict quality standards. To gain membership, each laboratory must meet certain very strict requirements and is tested at regular intervals. In Germany there are at least 100 companies that sell genetic testing and paternity. To date, only eight laboratories joined and were accepted valid. Companies that lack their own facilities and not the necessary qualifications are not eligible to become members of this institution. Membership of the VALID guarantee high quality and offers psychological comfort. Especially because the intermediate companies and laboratories founded by fraudulent means have entered the market, offering analysis of very poor quality.

– Why do people call these paternity tests?
– Experts estimate that between 10% and 20% of children born are legitimate husband’s biological children ( “Die Welt”, 11. October 1999). Usually the mother knows who the biological father of his children. Therefore it is surprising that between 20% and 30% of all tests required by the women. A molecular biological test is usually the only way for the mother and potential father to be sure of paternity.

– Could you describe what molecular biology test?
– Testing of modern molecular biology allow you to be sure of paternity or the fact that someone is definitely not child’s father. This method is not only more accurate but has a quality more cost-effective than traditional methods. We need only a few cells in the body of his father and the child. A sample is a simple method: take liquid from the mouth, a toothbrush or a cigarette stub and send it by mail to our laboratory. During molecular paternity test select specific regions of DNA father and child and then compare them. This comparison allows us to reach a probability of at least 99.99%. If necessary, we can test several regions of DNA, in this case reaching a rate of 99.99999%.

– Who appeals to the molecular biology test?
– Today, molecular biological paternity tests are used for a variety of entities. Courts, police, child welfare services, detectives, lawyers and doctors, all using these tests. Increasingly more individuals using these tests are inexpensive and fast, especially for their psychological comfort.

– The respect for privacy?
– All information will be treated with utmost confidentiality and not transmitted to third parties. Your samples will be used for other tests. All tests are performed in the laboratory owned by our company. On receipt of samples, none of them left inside our laboratory. If you wish, we can destroy all data after you have been given your test results.

– How a German company received the paternity test?
– Well, a small part of our society to show skeptical. Still talking about making a paternity test without mother’s consent. There are some interesting arguments that come from politicians, lawyers and individuals. Some people consider that information be collected without the consent of all persons involved, but on the other side is entitled to know whether the father is the biological father of his children and every child should know their biological parents. But most of the German company has responded positively benefit everyone involved: the reality check and his father away fears, check who is the real father mother, if you had many partners and children learn the truth about his parents . However, most tests are positive, and the husband no longer have any fear and his focus on his family’s affection. I know cases where the father refused to do a second child because of uncertainty in which they lived. After finding a positive outcome, were glad to have more children.

– How many paternity tests a year make?
– Perform about 3,000 tests annually, but our clients, as mentioned above, are from Europe, North and South America, Africa etc..

– What do you think about the Romanian market?
– At the moment the market is quite small. Only few companies provide such services and some of them are really expensive. I think that many Romanian citizens are not informed about developments in genetic and about the possibility of performing paternity tests on DNA. In addition, it is difficult to inform them about the last discoveries in genetics. One more reason to thank your newspaper for the opportunity provided to inform the public.

– So how informed your audience?
– The more the Internet. When someone wants to know more information, search on the Internet. So I created the page www.delphitest.org?

– How you see the evolution of the Romanian market?
– I believe strongly in developing Romanian market in the coming years. Romania is in fact a developed country with well educated people. Especially young people are open to new scientific discoveries are curious to find out as much information and the Internet, through its electronic library, offer this possibility. Paternity tests can be seen everywhere: on TV, newspapers, Internet etc.. Many celebrities (actors, stars in music or sports), appeals to the paternity test. I suppose in the coming years will most Romanians know that paternity tests are possible and accurate.

– Mr. Dr. Frank Pfannenschmid thank you for kindly granting us this interview.
– I thank you and hope you give me an opportunity to talk about other scientific projects in the field of genetics developed DelphiTest GmbH.

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