Refund Policy
Testing Environment
Our testing procedures and equipment are state of the art, and the environment we test in is sterile.
All materials are sterilized before and after testing.
We operate with strict PPE protocol. All consumables (needles, tubes, gloves, etc.) are disposed of after EVERY test sample.
Tests are performed ONE sample at a time at one workstation at a time. Workstations are sterilized between sample collection and in each phase of preparation, genetic extraction, and so on.
Inaccurate Results
Because our labs operate at the utmost standard of care, it is unlikely a sample we test will become contaminated or render a false result due to any actions of our own.
In the event a test result proves to be inaccurate or inconclusive, there are a few reasons this could have happened:
1. A sample collected was sullied by other genetic material present in the environment with the animal it was sourced from. Example- there was blood from another animal on the feathers of the sample animal- and the testing caught DNA from both animals.
2. Not enough genetic material was harvested to perform the sample.
3. The sample was accidentally mixed with other sample material during collection or packaging.
4. The packaging was not guarded and kept clean prior to and during the sample collection process.
And finally:
In extremely rare circumstances, the animal itself may be an anomaly. Avian species have a small chance of chimerism or hermaphroditism. In plain speak- the animal can potentially carry both male and female genes but only present visually as one gender or even both.
In hermaphroditism, a bird can possess varying degrees of both male and female sex organs, but visually appear to be only one gender. "Why is my hen crowing?"
"Why isn't my rooster crowing?" In the rarest of circumstances, this could be the answer. More likely reasons are also possible including age or social standing in the pecking order, For the purpose of this page, however- only the genetic aspect is important.
Chimerism is a split in the appearance of the animal. One side is female, one side is male. This is caused by two separate embryos fusing together in the most early stages of cell development. It is extremely rare, but still possible. These animals may have outward presentation of both male and female markers with a stark line between them. Here is a photo of a parakeet that has chimerism. One side is male, one side is female. *This is not our photo.
A photo of a parakeet with chimerism standing in front of a mirror showing a clear view of its opposite side.
With all of that said because we at Affordable Avian can only control what happens in our labs and can not see what happens when a client collects the samples, we are not able to provide refunds for disappointing results.
If we are unable to perform a test due to a lack of sufficient genetic material provided, we will offer the client one of the following options:
1. The client may send additional samples of the same animal to us to complete the test. Any additional shipping fees will be at the client's expense. OR
2. The client may have a lab credit issued in the amount of the testing only. Sales tax, shipping, expediting, and any other fees will not be refunded or credited.
If the testing has been performed and the result is inconclusive:
The client will be contacted and made aware that the result was inconclusive. The client will then be provided two options:
1. At the client's expense, they may send new genetic material for the purpose of completing the test OR
2. The client will be offered a lab credit for the amount of testing only, minus a service fee of $5. The $5 fee covers the cost of materials used in the testing process.
If you believe a result is incorrect:
Please contact us.
We ask for a description of the animal on the sample sheet and the sample bags to help identify the sample in question. Sometimes a client may put the wrong sample in the wrong bag or mark a sample incorrectly. We will attempt to rule out a mix-up with you.
For example, client has two tests they'd like done. One bird, sample A, is a white chicken. Sample B is a black chicken. Except, somehow Sample A was placed in Sample B's bag, and vice-versa. If the bag says "black chicken" and there are white chicken feathers in the bag, we will contact the client before testing is to be done.
If this is not possible, we operate under the assumption that the samples are labeled appropriately, and will perform the testing as scheduled.
In the event there was some form of a mix-up, we will offer to re-test the samples or test new samples for an additional fee of $5 per sample. Affordable Avian will invoice the client if this option is selected. If samples need to be sent to our lab again, the client is responsible for the shipping fees.
Once testing has commenced, there are no refunds provided.
Exceptions and Exclusions
At the sole discretion of the lab administrator, exceptions to these policies may be made. However, any exceptions made are on a case-by-case basis and are to be considered a courtesy, not a rule.
Affordable Avian prides itself on our ability to offer superior testing capabilities quickly and affordably. In an effort to preserve the accessibility of our services and keep pricing reasonable for clients from all financial backgrounds, we operate within very small margins. We believe our pricing structure will allow DNA testing services to be more accessible to small chicken keepers who operate on a limited budget- as well as larger producers that will have higher quantities of testing coming through. The goal is to save money for every type of client!
With the rise of backyard chicken keeping (and inevitable neighborhood rooster bans) in the wake of sky-high egg prices, it's more important than ever for clients to have access to this type of affordable testing. We see that need and strive to be the trusted answer for everyone.
The lab administrator has the right to refuse service to any company, person, or entity they believe may have abused or attempted the policies above or manipulated our system in a way that would cause the company to sustain a hardship or loss. In order to keep pricing fair for everyone, we will not tolerate theft or abuse of any exceptions made- for any reason at all.
If we suspect abuse, the lab administrator will advise the client that no services will be rendered to them at any time, and at this time any payments made to Affordable Avian for testing that has not yet been completed will be refunded immediately and the client or potential will not be served.
This provision for exception is in place with the understanding that even though our instance for internal error is rare, there is always a possibility that an error could be made. If we believe we are responsible for the issue, we will of course do everything we need to rectify the issue as quickly as possible.
Important to Note
Any testing, services, merchandise or offering made on this website that was either:
-Paid or partially paid for with loyalty points
-credits from a refund
-earned credit from affiliate or referral programs
-promotional or discount code
Will not qualify for a credit or refund under any circumstances.
For example- Customer uses the equivalent of $5 in earned loyalty points to make a $30 purchase (two DNA Gender tests, before taxes and shipping). Testing takes place, but due to a lack of sample material, the tests are inconclusive. Customer requests a credit to be issued.
Per the policies above, the customer is issued the following credit:
$15 and points used will return to the points balance.
The breakdown is as follows:
$5 was never paid by the customer, instead the customer had 'points' used. This $5 will go back to the points balance and is treated separately than the actual transaction.
$5 per test to cover spent materials, times two tests equals $10
So $30 minus the $5 in bonus points going back to the points total is $25
$25 minus $10 is $15. The customer will get a lab credit for $15.