Analysis of DNA under the HT Act

Anyone holding bodily material without the consent of the person/s concerned, intending to analyse the DNA and to use the results, could be breaking the law. It is an offence to analyse DNA without qualifying consent (unless it is for an excepted purpose) and could lead to a fine, a term of imprisonment of up to three years, or both.

S45 and Schedule 4 of the HT Act set out the provisions regarding DNA. However, where relevant material is removed from a body or stored for the purpose of DNA analysis, the scheduled purposes in Schedule 1 of the HT Act may also apply. 

There are also provisions regarding analysis of DNA in circumstances where consent is not needed as a result of incapacity. These are found in regulations 5, 6 and 7 of The Human Tissue Act (Persons who Lack Capacity to Consent and Transplants) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 1659).

It is necessary for someone to meet both of the following: 

• be in possession of bodily material intending that DNA in the material be analysed without qualifying consent; and 
• that the results of the analysis of DNA be used for something other than an excepted purpose.

As both tests must be met for the offence to be committed, this means that if one of them is not, there is no offence; for example: 

• if someone has qualifying consent, then any analysis of DNA can take place and the results of that analysis can be used for any purpose; 
• if there is no qualifying consent, the DNA can still be analysed and the results used, but where the use is for an excepted purpose; 
• if there is no qualifying consent and the results of analysis of DNA are for something which is not an excepted purpose, then an offence is committed. 

Bodily material is material which: 

• has come from a human body, and 
• consists of or includes human cells.

DNA in itself is not bodily material so someone holding extracted DNA does not commit an offence under the Act if they analyse it and use the results. 

This depends on the origin of the material; the excepted purposes are found in Schedule 4 to the Act (see Appendix 1). 

This depends on whether it relates to living or deceased, adult or child and is defined in Schedule 4 (see Appendix 2).

Yes.

If the person who has the material is not in possession, and not likely to come into possession, of information from which the person from whom the material came could be identified, the results can be used for any purpose and consent is not required or if it is used for one of the excepted purposes listed below (as for imported material): 

• clinical audit; 
• determining the cause of death; 
• education or training relating to human health; 
• establishing after a person’s death the efficacy of any drug or other treatment administered to him; 
• obtaining scientific or medical information about a living or deceased person which may be relevant to any other person (including a future person); 
• performance assessment; 
• public health monitoring; 
• quality assurance; 
• research in connection with disorders, or the functioning, of the human body; and
• transplantation. 

This means that if you have an existing holding of bodily material and hold information that allows the donor to be identified, you can only use the results of analysis for an excepted purpose, unless you seek qualifying consent from the donor.  

‘Existing holding’ means bodily material held immediately before the day on which the HT Act came into force, 1 September 2006. 

All companies providing DNA testing kits or DNA testing services must comply with the provisions of the Human Tissue Act 2004 relating to consent and the holding of bodily material with the intent to analyse DNA. 

Section 45 applies to ‘bodily material’, which is material that has come from a human body and consists of or includes human cells. However, for the purposes of the Act, material is not regarded as being from a human body if it is created outside the human body (Part 3(7).  It follows that cells lines that do not contain primary cells are not bodily material and the Section 45 requirements do not apply. Cell lines containing primary cells are considered bodily material. 

DNA testing companies may not always need an HTA licence. This is because DNA is not ‘relevant material' (which consists of or includes human cells). If establishments hold material (tissues and cells) from which DNA comes, then an HTA licence may be required. If tissues and cells are held for only a short period prior to being rendered acellular as part of the process by which DNA is obtained, then an HTA licence may not be required. Advice should be sought from the HTA. 

Yes, by implication, if relevant material is removed from a body to undertake DNA analysis for a reason that falls within this scheduled purpose such as if it is to obtain scientific or medical information which may be relevant to another person. 

Yes, as this is information ‘which may be relevant to any other person’. However, use of the results DNA analysis for the purposes of functions of a coroner (which includes identification of a deceased person) is use for an excepted purpose. There may be issues in relation to mass disasters overseas where there is no coroner’s jurisdiction in the UK. 

Use for excepted purposes (see Appendix referred to above). 

The Authority (or Court of Session in Scotland) has power to permit the use of results of analysis of DNA in the absence of consent. 

For adults who lack capacity to consent (England and Wales, and Northern Ireland) or adults with incapacity (Scotland) with such an adult referred to here as “P”, the purposes for which DNA may be analysed are: 

England and Wales 

1. any purpose which the person carrying out the analysis reasonably believes to be in P’s best interests; 
2. the purposes of a clinical trial which is authorised and conducted in accordance with the clinical trials regulations; 
3. the purposes of intrusive research which is carried out in accordance with the requirements of section 30(1)(a) and (b) of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (approval by appropriate body and compliance with sections 32 and 33 of that Act); 
4. the purposes of intrusive research 
   1. which is carried out on or after the relevant commencement date, 
   2.  in relation to which section 34 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (loss of capacity during research project) applies, and 
   3. which is carried out in accordance with regulations made under section 34(2) of that Act; or 
5. research which is carried out before the relevant commencement date and which, before that date, is ethically approved within the meaning of regulation 8 of The Human Tissue Act (Persons who Lack Capacity to Consent and Transplants) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 1659). 

Northern Ireland 

1. any purpose which the person carrying out the analysis reasonably believes to be in P’s best interests;
2. the purposes of a clinical trial which is authorised and conducted in accordance with the clinical trials regulations; or 
3. research which is ethically approved within the meaning of regulation 8 of The Human Tissue Act (Persons who Lack Capacity to Consent and Transplants) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 1659). 

Scotland 

1. any purpose for which the person carrying out the analysis has obtained the consent of any person who has authority to consent to analysis of P’s DNA by virtue of 
   1. a welfare power of attorney within the meaning of section 16(2), 
   2. an intervention order under section 53, or 
   3.  a guardianship order under section 58, 
2. of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000; 
3. a clinical trial which is authorised and conducted in accordance with the clinical trials regulations; or 
4. surgical, medical, nursing, dental or psychological research which is permitted under section 51 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. 

Yes, the provisions of s45 do. There are some variations in relation to consent (particularly regarding children) for this purpose. However, the foregoing information in relation to removal for scheduled purposes does not apply in Scotland. 

Schedule 4 para 11 states that ‘Use of the results of an analysis of DNA for a purpose specified in paragraph 7 is use for an excepted purpose if the use in England and Wales, or Northern Ireland, for that purpose of the bodily material concerned is authorised by section 1(1) or (10)(c)’. 

Section 1(4) of the Act makes it clear that section 1(1) (which relates to appropriate consent) of the Act does not apply to imported bodies or relevant material. Therefore, the use of the results of analysis for any of the purposes in paragraph 7 of Schedule 4 would be excepted purposes and therefore no offence would be committed if consent had not been obtained. Those purposes are: 

• clinical audit; 
• determining the cause of death; 
• education or training relating to human health; 
• establishing after a person’s death the efficacy of any drug or other treatment administered to him; 
• obtaining scientific or medical information about a living or deceased person which may be relevant to any other person (including a future person); 
• performance assessment; 
• public health monitoring; 
• quality assurance; 
• research in connection with disorders, or the functioning, of the human body; 
• transplantation. 

As stated above, this would therefore include use of the results for genetic or paternity testing. Also, import is into England, Wales and Northern Ireland so material imported from Scotland falls under this category. The HTA would always state that seeking confirmation of consent for any use in relation to imported material is good practice. 

Tissue from the living 

The consent provisions in Part 1 of the HT Act do not apply to the removal of tissue from living people for scheduled purposes, and therefore considerations about the purpose of the removal and whether consent is required are not necessary. With regard to the analysis of DNA, the s45 offence needs BOTH a lack of qualifying consent and use for something other than an excepted purpose. The excepted purposes set out in Schedule 4 include: 

• the prevention and detection of a crime; and 
• the conduct of a prosecution. 

Therefore, police analysis of DNA for their purposes does not require the consent of the person from whom the DNA was obtained. 

Tissue from the deceased 

In relation to removal of tissue from the deceased and subsequent DNA analysis; the removal of the tissue falls within the scope of the consent requirements but they will not apply because (a) the removal will not be for a scheduled purpose or (b) authority will have come from HM Coroner. As above, the excepted purposes for police activities apply to the use of the results.

The HTA has a statutory duty under section 15(b) to provide ‘in relation to activities within its remit such general oversight and guidance as it considers appropriate’ and under section 15(d) to provide ‘to the public, and to persons carrying on activities within its remit, such information and advice as it considers appropriate about the nature and purpose of such activities.’ The HTA has taken the approach that requests for information and guidance on the legal interpretation of DNA falls within its remit. 

However, the HTA's does not have a role in enforcement or prosecution and it is for police and the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether to prosecute should they discover evidence that an offence has been committed. 

In most cases it is illegal to carry out DNA testing, including paternity testing, without consent. Members of the public should contact the police if they suspect the law has been broken.

Yes, as this is information about a living or deceased person which is relevant to another person. 

The consent requirements for DIY Paternity testing kits are the same as those for any other kind of DNA analysis. As long as the consent requirements of the Human Tissue Act 2004 are met, the sale of DNA testing kits and their effectiveness are not matters for the HTA. 

No, the removal of relevant material from the body of a deceased person for use for a scheduled purpose needs appropriate consent (as defined in the Act and including the hierarchy of qualifying relationships). 

Paternity tests fall within the definition of ‘obtaining scientific information….’ as detailed above. This is NOT an excepted purpose, EXCEPT in relation to existing holdings. In relation to any other material it is a scheduled purpose. Therefore: 

• If it is in relation to an existing holding, paternity testing can be carried out (with or without consent or knowledge of identity, as it is use for an excepted purpose). 
• If it is in relation to the living, appropriate consent is needed for the use of relevant material for paternity testing. 
• If it is in relation to the deceased, appropriate consent is needed for the removal of relevant material from the deceased for use for paternity testing and for the use of the material for testing. 

That means that in the situation where someone gives qualifying consent for analysis of DNA under s 45 (e.g. the adult child of a deceased person) but a person higher up the hierarchy does not give consent to the removal of relevant material from the body of the deceased, NO removal can take place, and therefore no testing can take place.