Why DNA testing takes longer than expected

Doctor Eva Aluvalaa, head of Human DNA at KEMRI. Kenyans will now have to pay more to conduct Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) identification following the revised prices by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). Initially, the testing cost Sh.2000 but now people will have to pay Sh.7000 more effective January 2025. "We wish to inform our valued customers of a marginal price adjustment for the DNA Testing Service from Sh20,000 to Sh27,000 starting this January 2025 Thank you for your continued support," KEMRI announced on January 8, 2025. The state-owned research institute increased the prices citing an increase in operational cost and potential advances in testing technology. The test is usually conducted at the KEMRI Human DNA Identification Laboratory and other private hospitals. Doctor Eva Aluvalaa, head of Human DNA at KEMRI told Spice FM on Tuesday that the new charges are 'affordable' considering that it includes a test for three individuals". However, she mentioned one of the factors that could lead to increased prices emphasising the need for a national gynome centre. "If we have a reference laboratory it would help because most of the time the costs are high because you are trying to test one sample but if you can run many samples at the same time then the prices will come down," she suggested. Aluvalaa explained the types of samples used for the testing depending on the circumstances. "If someone comes in for a paternity test then you go for the easiest sample which would be the saliva or blood sample but if it's a missing person or body in the morgue we might go for the harder tissues like the nails, bones depending on the state of the body," she stated. She noted that for the experts to conduct the test, they should be able to match the samples correctly for the identification process. The scientist cited a case of the victims of the Shakahola massacre where several bodies have not been identified exhibiting a case of DNA testing challenge. Throughout the identification process, the challenge of DNA profiling was experienced where only 32 out of 429 bodies were positively identified by March 2024. This got many families complaining after they were informed that the samples they gave did not match the victims. Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor then said that the compilation of the identification process would take longer noting the level of decomposition of bodies. "Out of the 429 bodies exhumed in the previous four phases, 32 have been released for burial while others are yet to be claimed. We are asking more people to come out for DNA matching since the government has acquired adequate reagents to speed up the identification exercise," Oduor said. Aluvalaa referring to the Shakahola case noted that the scientists might need to apply the mitochondrial analysis after failing to identify some bodies. "Maybe not all the victims have their immediate relatives available so if you are using the nuclear DNA that is 50,50. If parents are not available then such victims may need to go source for relatives who are maternally related to the victims,' she said. Aluvalaa mentioned some challenges that could still deter the process of conducting DNA and identifying bodies in the county. The scientist believes the country needs a missing person DNA database to help identify victims discovered from different locations over time. She revealed that the process has commenced at KEMRI but facing funding challenges. The institution also seeks to bring together professionals interested in human genetic research to put together disease cohorts and conduct genome research. Meanwhile, the scientists hope DNAs will be integrated into medical care to avoid referring to the service at a research level and help medics understand their patients' backgrounds better. DNA testing can be done for legal or for personal knowledge. While most DNA tests use saliva samples, they can also be conducted using a range of tissues including; blood, nails, bones, teeth, and hair among others. There are two types of DNA; genomic and mitochondrial DNA. Genomic DNA is conducted about inherited genes where you get 50 per cent of it from your father and 50 per cent from your mother while the mitochondrial is exclusively inherited maternally, meaning you can be able to trace your maternal lineage. DNA testing can be used for genetic ancestry testing, paternity testing, clinical genetic testing, and forensic identity testing.

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Why DNA testing takes longer than expected

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