This is an issue of ongoing concern. Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld with the Innocence Project, for example, have for the last several years advocated for a standardized accreditation for forensic laboratories interested in doing DNA testing. They have thus far been unsuccessful in their efforts. Unfortunately, as a result, far too many labs are not being monitored or regulated. That is, forensic laboratories have escaped the kind of rigorous internal and external scrutiny that is applied to scientific laboratories in general.
Costs vary from lab to lab and depend upon the size and condition of the sample to be tested.
Civil liberties concerns exist with respect to the state's ability to obtain samples from a criminal suspect. In addition, privacy concerns exist with respect to the uses the state may make of profiles stored in DNA data banks. DNA testing is done with great frequency in paternity cases. In addition, testing is being done with increased frequency in rape and homicide cases. Finally, numerous states have established DNA data banks.