A cytogeneticist and clinical embryologist, Dr Paul Faduola, has revealed that with technological advancement, experts can now achieve 99.99 percent paternity test results.
In Nigeria, paternity fraud has recently emerged as a significant concern, with increasing reports revealing that many children have been falsely attributed to men who are not their biological fathers.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (aka DNA) is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism. DNA is made of two linked strands that wind around each other to resemble a twisted ladder — a shape known as a double helix, according to the National Human Genome Institute.
Speaking recently when OncoGenomics, a molecular diagnostic centre, launched its advanced paternity testing service powered by Next Generation Sequencing technology, Faduola explained that the innovation would deepen healthcare delivery in Nigeria, particularly in the area of DNA.
Highlighting the advancement of the new testing service, Faduola, who is also the Managing Director of OncoGenomics, said the NGS was more advanced in accurate result generation than the traditional Capillary Electrophoresis methods, which analyse a limited number of genetic markers.
According to him, NGS evaluates thousands of markers, ensuring a resolution that achieves a probability of paternity exceeding 99.99 per cent, making it especially robust in handling degraded DNA, low-quality samples, and cases involving close relatives.
“Whether it is handling degraded DNA, low-quality samples or resolving cases involving close relatives, NGS outperforms all previous technology. This makes it ideal for Nigeria’s diverse needs, from family reconciliation to legal disputes,” the expert said.
Faduola added that the NGS technology also offers faster results by eliminating the need to send samples abroad, reducing delays and foreign exchange costs.
He added, “With in-country testing using NGS, we eliminate the delays and costs associated with sending samples abroad. Nigerians can now access faster, more reliable results without compromising quality.”
“Billions of naira are spent annually to ship samples abroad. Now, that money stays within the country. The more samples we process in a batch, the lower the cost per sample. We are committed to making this service accessible to more Nigerians. By localising testing, we are making it accessible and affordable while ensuring privacy and data security.”
Unlike the CE method which uses just 15 to 23 markers, Faduola explained that NGS is the gold standard worldwide as it analyses close to a thousand markers, leaving no room for ambiguity.
“In capillary electrophoresis, they make use of between 15 to 23 of these markers to confirm whether somebody is the father or not the father. These are called STR markers. That is what capillary electrophoresis does. It is possible that the result might not be accurate by just analysing 15 to 23 markers.
“That is why NGS stepped in. NGS analyses close to a thousand markers. So, the more markers that are analysed and you get a result, the more accurate the result is. If someone is working with 23 markers, I am working with a thousand markers to bring that result,” the cytogeneticist added.
The clinical embryologist described the NGS paternity testing as a “significant leap forward for healthcare in Nigeria.”
Faduola said, “Today, we are proud to unveil Nigeria’s first paternity testing service powered by NGS technology. With this innovation, we are not only redefining the standards of accuracy and reliability in paternity testing but also ensuring Nigerians have access to world-class paternity services right here at home.”
