Guthrie Cards - Australia's DNA Database

Posted by michael on Thursday May 29, 2003 @04:30AM from the drop-in-the-bucket dept.

bobo12345 writes "There was an interesting show (transcript here) on ABC TV's (Australia) Catalyst on Guthrie Cards - paper filter cards containing blood spots from almost every Australian born since 1970. These samples are routinely taken and stored in hospitals to screen for diseases like Cystic Fibrosis. Australian police have accessed the DNA database without consent in the past, successfully prosecuting an unpleasant incest case. This led to the destroying of all Guthrie Cards by the hospital whose original cards were obtained under a search warrant. Makes you wonder where your genetic material is stored, and which authorities have access. No alien DNA has been discovered on the Guthrie Cards (yet)."

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Curious... by spumoni_fettuccini · 2003-05-29 05:38 · Score: 4, Interesting

How many other hospitals [in differant nations]have this practice and if the Red Cross keeps a sample, along with all of your personal information they aquire when one donates blood. It would seem to be a really easy thing to accomplish.

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