Demand surges for DNA tests after population policy change

Demand for DNA tests has soared in Southwest China's Sichuan province as unregistered citizens look to obtain household registration permits following a national policy change.

A directive issued last month by the State Council instructed all regional governments to devise new ways of registering citizens that do not have a household registration, or hukou.

Around one percent of China's population, or 13 million people, are unregistered according to the latest national census data - and although detailed implementation rules have yet to be unveiled, it is believed DNA paternity testing will form a key part of their hukou applications.