Orchid Cellmark

Orchid Cellmark is the world's largest private DNA testing firm. They have laboratories in Germantown, Maryland; Dallas, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; and Britain.

The company was established in 1987. It was the first private company to licence the DNA Fingerprinting technology from Alec Jeffreys and the University of Leicester. The company participated in the consultation process which led to the establishment of the Department of Health's voluntary code of practice on genetic paternity testing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The company undertakes DNA testing on behalf of the CSA and the UK Visas and Immigration scheme.