Orchid Cellmark Ltd is a UK based
DNA and forensic testing company with a history of UK and US ownership.
Cellmark was established in 1987 by
ICI having licensed the DNA Fingerprinting technology developed
Alec Jeffreys at the
University of Leicester
, mottoeng = So that they may have life
, established =
, type = public research university
, endowment = £20.0 million
, budget = £326 million
, chancellor = David Willetts
, vice_chancellor = Nishan Canagarajah
, head_lab ...
and received a Queen's Award for Technological Achievement in 1990. The company was established to develop and provide specialist DNA testing services and now delivers a range of accredited DNA and forensic services for relationship testing and criminal investigation. Cellmark was the first private paternity testing company in the UK and 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 paternity testing on behalf of the CSA and provides accredited DNA relationship testing to support immigration and Visa applications.
When ICI demerged in 1993, Cellmark became part of Zeneca and then part of
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc () is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with its headquarters at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in Cambridge, England. It has a portfolio of products for major diseases in areas includi ...
in 1998. Cellmark was acquired by Orchid BioSciences Inc in 2001. Based in Princeton, New Jersey Orchid BioSciences Inc subsequently changed its name to Orchid Cellmark Inc and operated DNA laboratories in Germantown, Dallas and Nashville, Tennessee. Cellmark was registered in the UK as Orchid Cellmark Ltd in 2005.
In December 2011, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (
LabCorp
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, more commonly known as Labcorp, is an American healthcare company headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina. It operates one of the largest clinical laboratory networks in the world, with a United St ...
) completed the acquisition of Orchid Cellmark Inc. In 2015 the company acquired Keith Borer Consultants, based in Durham, who provide forensic defence services through its wholly owned subsidiary, OCM Acquisition Corp.
It is now, in the United States, called Cellmark Forensics, Inc.
In 2018 the management team at Orchid Cellmark Ltd acquired the company from
LabCorp
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, more commonly known as Labcorp, is an American healthcare company headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina. It operates one of the largest clinical laboratory networks in the world, with a United St ...
.
The company is now one of the major providers of forensic services to police forces in England and Wales and has laboratories in
Abingdon-on-Thames
Abingdon-on-Thames ( ), commonly known as Abingdon, is a historic market town and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Oxfordshire, England, on the River Thames. Historically the county town of Berkshire, since 1974 Abingdon has been ad ...
, Oxfordshire, and
Chorley, Lancashire.
See also
In February 2007, the company's location in
Abingdon-on-Thames
Abingdon-on-Thames ( ), commonly known as Abingdon, is a historic market town and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Oxfordshire, England, on the River Thames. Historically the county town of Berkshire, since 1974 Abingdon has been ad ...
,
Oxfordshire was targeted as part of the
Miles Cooper letter bomb campaign
In the United Kingdom, a series of seven letter bombs were sent during January and February 2007 to various companies and agencies, all related in some way to DNA testing and road transport. Police said that some of the letters were hand written ...
. One person, a pregnant receptionist, was injured.
References
External links
Cellmark [PaternityCellmark Forensics
OJ Simpson's DNA given to Museumestablishments in the United Kingdom
Companies established in 1987
Companies based in Oxfordshire
1987 establishments in England
Genetics in the United Kingdom
Imperial Chemical Industries
Service companies of England
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