Why Capillary Electrophoresis is reliable for paternity test– Expert

As paternity disputes and DNA testing cases become increasingly prevalent, Dr. Emeka Obiodunukwe, a physician and molecular biologist, has asserted that Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) remains the most dependable method for paternity testing in the country. This technique, utilized in forensic medicine, genetic testing, and human identification, is distinguished by its precision, accuracy, affordability, and established reliability.

Dr. Obiodunukwe, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of DemyHealth, emphasized that CE has been the foundation of DNA analysis for many years, providing exceptional reliability in genetic comparisons. He noted that this method analyzes between 15 to 27 Short Tandem Repeats from human DNA, which exhibit significant variability among individuals, making them ideal markers for determining biological relationships.

With a longstanding history of achieving over 99.99 percent accuracy in results, CE is recognized as a benchmark of reliability in both legal and personal paternity cases, according to Dr. Obiodunukwe.

The United States National Library of Medicine indicates that CE, commonly referred to as Sanger sequencing and developed by Frederick Sanger, has served as the benchmark for DNA analysis for many years, owing to its accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and reliability.

This method is extensively utilized in forensic medicine, genetic testing, and human identification.

According to the NLM, Sanger sequencing is of considerable importance in the medical field due to its accuracy, reliability, and ability to sequence small amounts of DNA. This technique is adeptly used to analyze specific regions of mitochondrial DNA and conduct short tandem repeat analysis for the purpose of human identification.

Moreover, Sanger sequencing plays a crucial role in linking biological evidence to individuals, diagnosing genetic disorders, and examining drug metabolism within forensic medicine.

In Nigeria, the incidence of paternity fraud ranks as the second highest globally.

Data from a DNA testing laboratory revealed that approximately 27 percent of paternity tests conducted by the facility yielded negative results, indicating that one in four tests confirmed the alleged father was not the biological parent.

Obiodunukwe elaborated that Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) analyzes between 15 and 27 Short Tandem Repeats (STRs), which are distinctive DNA markers that assist in confirming paternity. In contrast, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is beneficial for intricate genetic research but is costly, time-consuming, and not yet widely adopted for paternity testing.

"Most accredited laboratories globally utilize 13 to 16 STR markers, achieving an accuracy rate exceeding 99.99 percent. Some, such as DemyHealth, employ 21 to 27 markers to enhance precision, particularly in scenarios where close relatives, like brothers, may be potential fathers," he noted.

He further emphasized that NGS necessitates specialized expertise and intricate data analysis, which are not required for standard paternity tests.

Obiodunukwe expressed concern regarding the proliferation of unregulated DNA testing facilities in the country, highlighting the importance for clients to verify the technologies and methodologies employed.

"Our objective extends beyond merely providing testing services; we aim to empower individuals to make informed choices. When clients have confidence in the technology and the professionals involved, they can trust the results," he remarked.

Additionally, Hajarat Alfa, a Senior Molecular Biologist at DemyHealth, asserted that CE is both cost-effective and highly precise, rendering it the optimal choice for paternity testing.

"CE is entirely adequate for confirming biological relationships, whereas NGS is better suited for detecting genetic disorders," she clarified.

Alfa also mentioned that the center offers various genetic testing services, including HPV DNA testing for cervical cancer and viral load assessments, all at competitive rates.

Mr. Ali Casmir, the Head of Molecular Diagnostics at DemyHealth, stated that the center provides the quickest turnaround time for paternity test results in Nigeria.

"Unlike facilities that are experimenting with NGS for paternity testing, which frequently leads to delays and increased costs, our application of CE guarantees prompt, precise, and affordable results," he concluded.

Experts have indicated that, despite the progress made in genetic technology, CE will continue to be the preferred option for paternity testing owing to its affordability, rapid results, and precision. They also emphasized the center's dedication to ethical testing practices and its commitment to delivering dependable DNA testing services for families and researchers throughout Nigeria.