DNA testing in Nigeria is moving beyond the courtroom and family disputes, as DemyHealth Clinic and Genomic Medicine introduced advanced sequencing technologies to broaden its applications in justice, healthcare and research.
The diagnostic provider recently installed the ABI 3500Dx Genetic Analyzer and Illumina Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) platform, placing it among the few laboratories in Africa with high-capacity DNA analysis capabilities.
Speaking on the growing use of DNA testing, Head of Molecular Diagnostics at DemyHealth, Mr. Casmir Ali, said the technology is now assisting law enforcement in child trafficking cases.
“DNA testing is now saving lives. We assist law enforcement in verifying or disproving claimed parental relationships, particularly in suspected child trafficking cases,” he said.
According to him, DNA profiling is also being used in incest cases, immigration disputes, and undisclosed kinship situations.
The chairman/CEO of DemyHealth, Dr. Emeka Obiodunukwe, said the lab has provided crucial support in identifying victims of air crashes, building collapses, and other disasters.
“It’s hard to overstate the emotional relief families feel when a body is correctly identified. DNA provides legal certainty and cultural resolution, ensuring families can conduct proper burials,“ he said.
He added that DNA analysis is also being used to resolve cases of long-missing persons and body misidentifications in mortuaries.
The recent surge in migration has also fueled demand for DNA testing. With more Nigerians applying for visas and citizenship abroad, embassies increasingly require biological proof for family reunification. DemyHealth said it is providing legally recognised results to meet this need.
Beyond legal and forensic cases, the new sequencing platforms are enabling advances in molecular medicine. Senior Molecular Scientist at DemyHealth, Dr. Sharon Akinpelu, said the lab is using DNA testing for cancer diagnostics, rare disease detection, and infectious disease tracking.
“Every sample brings us closer to treatments tailored for African populations, who remain underrepresented in global research,” she noted.
She added that clinical applications now include newborn and carrier screening for conditions such as sickle cell disease, HLA typing for organ transplantation, and pharmacogenomics to guide safe and effective drug prescriptions.
The Organisation said it is also expanding into ancestry testing, which helps Nigerians trace their genetic roots, and livestock DNA testing, which supports agricultural breeding and food security.
With these expanded capabilities, the the organisation said DNA testing in Nigeria is no longer just about resolving paternity disputes but about strengthening justice, improving healthcare, and advancing science.
