Privacy & HIPAA Notice

Omnidex Testing Solutions LLC respects the privacy of every client and is committed to handling personal, health-related, and genetic information responsibly.

Omnidex uses reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect confidential information and specimens.

We treat DNA and genetic information as sensitive confidential information and limit access to information to authorized individuals and organizations as necessary to provide requested services or as required or permitted by law.

Omnidex Testing Solutions LLC provides DNA specimen collection services through both mobile and in-office appointments.

Services may include:

• Paternity Testing
• Maternity Testing
• Relationship Testing
• Sibling Testing
• Grandparentage Testing
• Avuncular Testing
• Legal DNA Testing
• Peace-of-Mind DNA Testing

Omnidex collects DNA specimens, generally through buccal (cheek) swab collection, and may submit specimens and required information to an appropriate testing laboratory for analysis.

Omnidex is a specimen collection provider and does not independently perform DNA laboratory analysis unless specifically stated otherwise.

Depending on the services requested, Omnidex may collect information including:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Mailing or physical address
• Identification information
• Information necessary for identity verification
• Information necessary to establish and maintain chain of custody
• Information about individuals participating in testing
• Appointment information
• Payment and transaction information
• Specimen collection information
• Laboratory and testing information
• DNA or genetic information received from or provided to an applicable testing laboratory
• Other information reasonably necessary to provide the requested services

Omnidex collects only information reasonably necessary to provide services, maintain appropriate records, comply with applicable requirements, and operate the business.

Omnidex may use collected information to:

• Schedule and manage appointments
• Provide DNA specimen collection services
• Verify client identity
• Establish and maintain chain of custody
• Communicate with clients about requested services
• Process payments and transactions
• Submit specimens and required information to testing laboratories
• Receive and communicate applicable testing information
• Maintain business and service records
• Respond to client requests
• Meet applicable legal, regulatory, laboratory, accreditation, and contractual requirements
• Protect the safety, security, and integrity of our services

Omnidex may disclose information when reasonably necessary to provide requested services or when disclosure is required or permitted by applicable law.

Information may be disclosed to:

• The testing laboratory performing the requested analysis
• Authorized service providers assisting Omnidex in providing services
• Individuals or organizations authorized by the client
• Courts or other legal authorities when required by law or valid legal process
• Government agencies or law enforcement when legally required or otherwise permitted
• Other parties when disclosure is required or permitted by applicable federal or Maryland law

Omnidex will make reasonable efforts to limit disclosures to information necessary for the applicable purpose.

DNA and genetic information are highly sensitive forms of personal information.

Omnidex will take reasonable measures to protect genetic information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

Genetic information collected or handled by Omnidex will not intentionally be used for purposes unrelated to the services requested, except when such use or disclosure is required or permitted by applicable law.

Clients may request access to, correction of, deletion of, or destruction of certain information or biological specimens when permitted by applicable law.

However, requests involving DNA specimens, genetic information, or testing records may be subject to legal, laboratory, accreditation, chain-of-custody, contractual, record-retention, or other applicable requirements.

For legal DNA testing, certain records and specimens may need to be retained to protect the integrity of the testing process and chain of custody.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that establishes privacy and security requirements for certain covered entities and their business associates.

HIPAA does not automatically apply to every business that handles health-related or genetic information.

Omnidex Testing Solutions LLC will comply with HIPAA requirements applicable to its specific legal role and relationships with covered entities and business associates when HIPAA applies.

When HIPAA applies, clients may have certain rights concerning their protected health information, including rights related to access, privacy, certain uses and disclosures, and complaints.

Nothing in this notice is intended to state that Omnidex is a HIPAA-covered entity or business associate in every circumstance.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, clients may have certain privacy rights, including the ability to:

• Request access to certain information maintained about them
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request information concerning certain disclosures
• Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures where applicable
• Request confidential communications
• Request deletion or destruction of certain information or biological specimens when legally permitted
• Ask questions about how their information is handled
• Submit a privacy complaint without retaliation

Some requests may be limited by applicable law, legal testing requirements, laboratory requirements, accreditation requirements, chain-of-custody requirements, contractual obligations, or required record-retention periods.

Omnidex may communicate with clients through telephone calls, email, text messages, appointment scheduling systems, and other electronic communication methods.

Electronic communications may be used for appointment confirmations, reminders, scheduling, payment-related communications, service information, and other communications necessary to provide requested services.

Clients should avoid sending highly sensitive medical or genetic information through unsecured email, text messages, or other unsecured electronic communications unless specifically requested by Omnidex.

Omnidex maintains reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect confidential information.

These safeguards are intended to reduce the risk of unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, loss, or destruction of information.

However, no electronic transmission, website, email system, computer system, or electronic storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

If Omnidex becomes aware of a suspected unauthorized access, use, disclosure, or loss of confidential information, Omnidex will take reasonable steps to investigate and respond in accordance with applicable law.

Clients may contact Omnidex Testing Solutions LLC with questions, concerns, or complaints regarding the privacy or security of their information.

When HIPAA applies, individuals may also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.

Omnidex will not retaliate against an individual for submitting a good-faith privacy complaint.

Omnidex Testing Solutions LLC may update this Privacy & HIPAA Notice when its services, privacy practices, security practices, or applicable legal requirements change.

The most current version of this notice will be made available on the Omnidex Testing Solutions LLC website.

Clients are encouraged to review this notice periodically for updates.