DemyHealth launches new DNA sequencing facility, genomic research programmes

DemyHealth, a leading healthcare technology  company, has added a 16-channel genetic sequencer to its molecular laboratories, as part of its efforts towards transforming the country molecular diagnostic and precision medicine space. The chief executive officer of DemyHealth, Dr Emeka Obiodunukwe, said the new technology provides the company the opportunity to expand its molecular testing services […]

DemyHealth, a leading healthcare technology  company, has added a 16-channel genetic sequencer to its molecular laboratories, as part of its efforts towards transforming the country molecular diagnostic and precision medicine space.

The chief executive officer of DemyHealth, Dr Emeka Obiodunukwe, said the new technology provides the company the opportunity to expand its molecular testing services to include more genetic disorders, cancers, and companion diagnostics.

He said, “It is designed to revolutionise infectious disease testing by offering sequencing services for culture negative samples in clinical setting, and close the medical testing gap in Nigeria and West Africa.” 

Obiodunukwe said  the new technology is   part of the company’s response to growing demands for a wide range of genomic and sequencing services in the country’s  healthcare and life science space.

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While acknowledging that  the open sequencing platform  marks a significant milestone in the Nigerian molecular diagnostic industry, he said the organisation also  unveiled a new DNA sequencing facility at its head office in Abuja and  also opened two new branch offices in Lagos.

He said, “ Besides handling simultaneous analysis of 192 paternity samples at once, increasing testing capacity, and reducing turnaround times, the new offering has drastically cut down the price and overall turnaround time of paternity test and sequencing services to about three days, in Nigeria.”

He added that the open system is well suited for scientific interrogation which allows for greater flexibility for research and targeted sequencing capabilities, adding,  “It also houses an advanced software for data interpretation, which enables faster and more accurate results.”  

He said,  “This will greatly impact education in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa scientific community, equipping researchers in our institutions with the right tools to advance learning and discovery, thereby enabling Africa to contribute its quota globally.”

He stated that the company had, since its inception, tested over 50,000 molecular samples, set up over 60 molecular laboratories in the country.

“We were one of the first centres in Nigeria to install Automated Nucleic Acid Extractor in 2018. This equipment enabled us to cut down the turnaround time for HBV, HCV, HIV viral loads, HPV DNA, and other molecular tests to 2 – 3 days,” he added.

The head of molecular lab department at DemyHealth, Mr Casmir Ali, identified experience, technology advantage, satisfaction and pricing, among others, as some of the factors that separate DemyHealth Sequencing and DNA Paternity testing services from others, making its paternity results at par with DDC USA,  and Alphabiolab UK.

On experience, Casmir Ali noted that the company’s combined experience of over a decade in molecular testing and extensive product knowledge in the field, plays a key role in its equipment and reagent selection.

Dr Tony Mpkolulu, diagnostic radiologist at Lake Medical Imaging, Leesburg, Florida, United States, applauded the DemyHealth initiative, noting that, “It will close the gap in the Nigerian medical research and diagnostic space.”