Jorge Barrera

So how did Acumetrix get this result? When asked, the company's owner, Harvey Tenenbaum, says simply, quote, well, if we have it in the computer, we got it from somewhere. Not long after, the Beothuk references on the Acumetrix website vanish. But it wouldn't be the last time an indigenous ancestry test would catch the company out. And the next time, I would be the reporter getting the tip.

So how did Acumetrix get this result? When asked, the company's owner, Harvey Tenenbaum, says simply, quote, well, if we have it in the computer, we got it from somewhere. Not long after, the Beothuk references on the Acumetrix website vanish. But it wouldn't be the last time an indigenous ancestry test would catch the company out. And the next time, I would be the reporter getting the tip.

A call that would lead to a whole new set of questions about the company's DNA testing services.

A call that would lead to a whole new set of questions about the company's DNA testing services.

And at the same time that this Beothuk story was blowing up, thousands of kilometers away, a woman named Sarah Domenico had her own questions about the company. And she would do something very few would try when burned by Acumetrix. She would take them to court.

And at the same time that this Beothuk story was blowing up, thousands of kilometers away, a woman named Sarah Domenico had her own questions about the company. And she would do something very few would try when burned by Acumetrix. She would take them to court.

I'm Jorge Barrera. This is Bad Results, Chapter 4, Dog by Controversy.

I'm Jorge Barrera. This is Bad Results, Chapter 4, Dog by Controversy.

The story of Sarah's court battle with Viagard Acumetrics begins in 2013. She's just ended a years-long on-again, off-again relationship. She's hanging out in downtown Oakland when she sees this guy going by on his bicycle.

The story of Sarah's court battle with Viagard Acumetrics begins in 2013. She's just ended a years-long on-again, off-again relationship. She's hanging out in downtown Oakland when she sees this guy going by on his bicycle.

One thing leads to another with this guy and, well, sparks fly. She'll call him John to protect his privacy. In the fall of 2013, a couple weeks after meeting John, Sarah finds out she's pregnant. It's a surprise. A good one. She's 36.

One thing leads to another with this guy and, well, sparks fly. She'll call him John to protect his privacy. In the fall of 2013, a couple weeks after meeting John, Sarah finds out she's pregnant. It's a surprise. A good one. She's 36.

But her calculations tell her that her ex, a guy she's calling Micah, also to protect his privacy, well, he is probably the dad. So she tells John she's pregnant and is going back to Micah.

But her calculations tell her that her ex, a guy she's calling Micah, also to protect his privacy, well, he is probably the dad. So she tells John she's pregnant and is going back to Micah.

But there's this nagging little worry. What if she's wrong? John is black. Micah is white.

But there's this nagging little worry. What if she's wrong? John is black. Micah is white.

When Sarah lands on the Acumetrix website, she's drawn to it.

When Sarah lands on the Acumetrix website, she's drawn to it.

And even though she's told Micah she's pregnant, Sarah doesn't want him to know she's not sure he's actually the dad. But she needs his DNA sample for the test.

And even though she's told Micah she's pregnant, Sarah doesn't want him to know she's not sure he's actually the dad. But she needs his DNA sample for the test.