By Doris Obinna
A Nigerian genetic testing and pathology outfit, OncoGenomics Test Center, has achieved a landmark milestone in paternity testing by successfully conducting the first-ever paternity test in Lagos, Nigeria, utilizing the cutting-edge Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology.
The NGS testing technology, the firm disclosed, is an improvement on the traditional paternity tests, Capillary Electrophoresis (CE), which analyse Short Tandem Repeat (STR) markers.
Speaking, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paul Faduola, stated that the achievement marks a historic milestone, making OncoGenomics the first Centre in West Africa to leverage the NGS technology for paternity testing.
“With this achievement, OncoGenomics is positioned to provide accurate, timely results without the need for samples to be sent abroad, thus revolutionizing accessibility to advanced forensic services in Nigeria and across West Africa.
“This breakthrough underscores the pioneering of a new era of genetic testing in West Africa. NGS, a cutting-edge technology, is rapidly transforming the landscape of genetic testing. Unlike CE, which analyzes a maximum of 23 markers, NGS examines thousands of genetic markers simultaneously. By leveraging this advanced capability, NGS ensures unparalleled accuracy and precision in determining biological relationships.”
Faduola further explained that the adoption of this new technology will pave the way for in-country data capturing, strengthen data accuracy, improve In-country human capacity, foster trust within families and expand service offerings to more Nigerians at reduced cost.
“NGS eliminates the chances of errors. It reads the entire genetic sequence, leaving no room for ambiguity. If a marker is not present, the system simply will not generate a result. It is also cost efficient in that the cost of running a single NGS test can be spread across multiple samples, significantly reducing the overall expense. This scalability makes NGS more accessible, especially as its adoption grows in laboratories worldwide.”
Advancement in technology which is also reflected in pricing, he stated, presents a challenge in the paternity testing market as members of the public, because of scarce resources and lack of information about the variety of technological advancement, opt for a cheaper solution which may ultimately impact test outcomes.
“By localizing testing, we are making this technology accessible and affordable, removing the financial barriers that have historically excluded many Nigerians. Reliable paternity testing plays a crucial role in legal cases, family reunification, and social stability. Our NGS-based service provides the clarity and trust needed for these sensitive matters. We are local and can be held accountable unlike laboratories abroad.
“Address this significant need, we were motivated by the gap observed in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape, where paternity testing relied heavily on sending samples abroad, leading to delays, increased costs, and privacy concerns. Families and individuals deserve accurate and reliable answers without the additional burden of time and expense.
“Paternity testing is not just about science; it’s about providing clarity, peace of mind, and solutions to issues that deeply affect families. We wanted to be a part of the journey that helps individuals find answers and build stronger familial bonds.
“Nigeria has immense potential to adopt and lead in cutting-edge technologies like NGS. Our vision was to bring this advanced technology home to provide faster, more accurate, and affordable solutions, ensuring that we no longer rely on external systems for answers to personal and legal questions,” Faduola stated.
While urging Nigerians to embrace the innovation, he said whether for personal, legal, or medical reasons, paternity testing is now more accessible, accurate.
