Rachel Houlihan

So really, if the blood sample wasn't big enough to even run the test, why not toss them in the garbage? But what about all the other ways the company collected samples? Why were those results also wrong? John Brennan, who raised a baby for eight months before learning he wasn't the biological dad, in his case, someone came to his house and drew a couple vials of blood from his and the mom's arm.

So really, if the blood sample wasn't big enough to even run the test, why not toss them in the garbage? But what about all the other ways the company collected samples? Why were those results also wrong? John Brennan, who raised a baby for eight months before learning he wasn't the biological dad, in his case, someone came to his house and drew a couple vials of blood from his and the mom's arm.

And then there's Melissa Benton, the woman who'd only slept with one man. She was sent to a local lab for a blood draw and mailed the sample to Acumetrix. There's no way to know for certain all the reasons these test results turned out to be wrong. But what is certain is that people put their trust in this company and that trust was misplaced.

And then there's Melissa Benton, the woman who'd only slept with one man. She was sent to a local lab for a blood draw and mailed the sample to Acumetrix. There's no way to know for certain all the reasons these test results turned out to be wrong. But what is certain is that people put their trust in this company and that trust was misplaced.

That confidence might make sense because of this. Acumetrix sits in a regulatory black hole. No government body is making sure this type of DNA laboratory is giving accurate results. We reached out to every province, and they all said it was up to the federal government to regulate the industry. So we asked Health Canada, what gives? And it, in turn, pointed its finger back at the provinces.

That confidence might make sense because of this. Acumetrix sits in a regulatory black hole. No government body is making sure this type of DNA laboratory is giving accurate results. We reached out to every province, and they all said it was up to the federal government to regulate the industry. So we asked Health Canada, what gives? And it, in turn, pointed its finger back at the provinces.

In this void of any real oversight sits the Standards Council of Canada. The SCC helps certain industries meet international standards, though it's mostly voluntary. Accumetrix got the SCC's gold star of approval in 2014 for one specific test. DNA testing for federal immigration cases.

In this void of any real oversight sits the Standards Council of Canada. The SCC helps certain industries meet international standards, though it's mostly voluntary. Accumetrix got the SCC's gold star of approval in 2014 for one specific test. DNA testing for federal immigration cases.

But Accumetrix started to misuse the SCC's logo, making it seem like all of its testing was accredited, including its prenatal paternity tests. So in 2017, the SCC pulled Accumetrix accreditation. And in the ensuing legal tussle, the SCC inspected the company's laboratory, and we got our hands on the typically confidential report.

But Accumetrix started to misuse the SCC's logo, making it seem like all of its testing was accredited, including its prenatal paternity tests. So in 2017, the SCC pulled Accumetrix accreditation. And in the ensuing legal tussle, the SCC inspected the company's laboratory, and we got our hands on the typically confidential report.

The inspector flagged things like a failure to log complaints, no records detailing decontamination protocols, along with concerns about how samples were handled and possible cross-contamination. The Standards Council stuck to its guns and refused to reaccredit the company. But it doesn't matter. Accumetrix stays in business with no oversight and no one protecting the public.

The inspector flagged things like a failure to log complaints, no records detailing decontamination protocols, along with concerns about how samples were handled and possible cross-contamination. The Standards Council stuck to its guns and refused to reaccredit the company. But it doesn't matter. Accumetrix stays in business with no oversight and no one protecting the public.

It's been years since he stepped foot in the Acumetrix office, but the ex-employee hasn't let go of what he saw.

It's been years since he stepped foot in the Acumetrix office, but the ex-employee hasn't let go of what he saw.

A legal note here. Over the course of this podcast, you're going to hear a number of allegations made against Viaguard Acumetrix and its employees. When asked, company owner Harvey Tenenbaum said he stands by the test and that any errors were caused by customers during sample collection. Bad Results is written and reported by Jorge Barrera and me, Rachel Houlihan. Mixing and producing by AC Rowe.

A legal note here. Over the course of this podcast, you're going to hear a number of allegations made against Viaguard Acumetrix and its employees. When asked, company owner Harvey Tenenbaum said he stands by the test and that any errors were caused by customers during sample collection. Bad Results is written and reported by Jorge Barrera and me, Rachel Houlihan. Mixing and producing by AC Rowe.

Jessica Lindsay is our showrunner and Carla Hilton is our executive producer. Special thanks to the folks at CBC Podcasts for their support. Karen Burgess is managing editor for CBC News Podcasts.

Jessica Lindsay is our showrunner and Carla Hilton is our executive producer. Special thanks to the folks at CBC Podcasts for their support. Karen Burgess is managing editor for CBC News Podcasts.

Right. To be honest, we have the lab looking into the issue. We're not sure what went wrong and what the issue is in this scenario.

Right. To be honest, we have the lab looking into the issue. We're not sure what went wrong and what the issue is in this scenario.