Cost of DNA test in Nigeria nowadays is not expensive, gone are the days when this tests are super expensive and mostly done abroad but now you can do it anywhere you are in the country and it’s affordable.
The major factors that affect the cost of DNA tests in Nigeria include the type of DNA test, the number of participants involved, the nature of the samples sent for testing including (hair, nail, blood, swabs, extraction of DNA from materials like toothbrush, underwear, fingerprint, etc) and the mode of DNA testing service delivery (either Home testing or Walk-in).
The common questions remains “How much is a DNA test”? Where can a DNA test be done in Nigeria”? If you have any of these questions and more then this article is for you. In this article, we will give you all the necessary information about how much DNA test cost at different hospitals and clinics across the country, the different types of DNA test and the price range. Firstly let’s see how much a DNA cost in Nigeria.
How Much is a DNA Test
The cost of DNA test in Nigeria is between the range of N70,000 – N150,000. This amount vary depending on your location, hospital and the type of DNA test you want to do. If you have health insurance, it will likely affect the price you would pay for the test.
To avoid paying so much for the test, you can check if your company has an HMO or health insurance scheme that covers procedures like DNA tests.
The cost of DNA test in Nigeria also depends on the reason for the test. Most people in Nigeria carry out a DNA test to know if the child is biologically their (Peace of Mind). While others carry out DNA test for legal purpose or immigration.
The most affordable DNA test in Nigeria is the personal paternity (Peace of Mind) DNA test (i.e To know if the child is biologically theirs) but DNA it’s for legal tussles or formal issues are usually more expensive.
DNA test for Peace of Mind (i.e to know if the child is biologically yours) cost about N70,000 – N100,000 depending on your location and the hospital. While DNA test for legal cases is from N150,000 and above.
What is A Relationship DNA Test
A relationship DNA test is the use of genetic profiles to determine if an individual is the biological parent another individual.
In Nigeria, there are four common relationship DNA tests. They are;
- Personal Paternity (Peace of Mind) Test
- Prenatal Paternity Test
- Legal Paternity DNA Test
- Immigration DNA Test
Cost of Personal Paternity DNA Test (Peace of Mind) in Nigeria
Paternity DNA test (Peace of Mind) cost N100,000 – N150,000 depending on this hospital. The standard Peace of Mind Paternity DNA test involves collecting a mouth swab sample from the alleged father and child.
A non-standard Paternity DNA test involves taking samples like hair, fingernails, bloodstains, clothes, etc. This method is used when it’s impossible to provide a saliva (mouth swab) sample. For the non-standard DNA test, it cost about N500,000
The standard Personal Paternity DNA test (Peace of Mind) is the simplest and the fastest way to confirm whether or not the alleged father is the biological father of a child. This procedure involves collecting and examining the DNA of a small sample of the body fluid (mostly a cheek swab) from the alleged father and child. For the first test, the DNA samples can be collected from the confines of their home or at the DNA centre.
Cost of Prenatal Paternity DNA Test
The cost of Prenatal Paternity DNA Test in Nigeria is about 800,000 – N1.5 million depending on the hospital. This non-invasive prenatal paternity DNA test is used to determine whether or not a potential father is the biological father of the baby before its born.
This procedure involves taking cheek swabs from the alleged father(s) and a blood sample from the mother (the pregnant woman) to conduct a fetal cell analysis. The baby’s DNA will be analyzed and compared to the DNA markers if the alleged father(s) to ascertain who the actual father truly is.
Cost of Immigration DNA Test in Nigeria
The cost of standard immigration DNA test is between the range of N200,000 – N300,000 depending on the hospital. This test involves collecting and examining of mouth swabs from the father and the child.
Immigration DNA test is the paternity test done by a parent(s) who wants to prove that they are the biological parents of their children to the immigration office for the purpose of migrating their children to another country.
For families intending to travel to countries like US, UK and Canada, applicants are requested to perform immigration relationship DNA test as part of immigration and visiting procedures.
The standard immigration DNA test must be done in a strict chain of custody for the test to be accepted by the embassy.
Cost of Legal Paternity DNA Test in Nigeria
Standard legal paternity DNA test costs about N200,000 – N300,000 depending on the hospital. This test is done by collecting samples (mouth swab) from the alleged father and the child. Other types of samples can also be collected such as hair, fingernails, bloodstains, clothes, etc. The sample collected can also affect the cost of the test.
Legal paternity DNA test are for those who needs to use their DNA test results in a law court. It is used to settle cases like child custody, change of name on a birth certificate, child support, alimony, etc.
Legal paternity DNA test is different from standard home paternity DNA test which is only done for peace of mind purposes.
For a legal paternity test to be accepted the DNA sample must be collected under the supervision of a judge and the test carried out in the presence of a court appointed representative.
Where Can a DNA Test Be Done in Nigeria
There are several hospitals and laboratory and diagnostics centre in Nigeria that supports DNA test. These DNA test centres are located in different cities across the country, such as Lagos, Abuja Benin-city, Port Harcourt etc.
DNA test can be done in any of the following centres;
DNA Test Centres in Lagos
Clina-Lancet Laboratories
- Address: 3 Babatunde Jose off Adetokubo Ademola, Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria
DDC (Nigeria)
- Address: 1679 Karimu Kotun Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State
DNA Centre for Paternity Tests
- Address: 73 Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria
easyDNA Nigeria
- Address: No 2 Omilani Street, Ijeshatedo Surulere, Lagos
Paternity Test Nigeria
- Address: Plot 79 Bamgbose Street, Lagos Island, Lagos Nigeria
DNABank
- Address: Molecular Systematics & Palynology Laboratory, Department of Botany University of Lagos, Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria
Smart DNA Nigeria
- Address: 42, Ajose street, Mende, Maryland, Lagos
DNA Test Centres in Abuja
Identi Gene Nigeria
- Address: Plot 578, Cadastral Zone B09, Kado Estate, Kado District, Abuja FCT Nigeria
DNA Test Centres in Kaduna
DNA Labs Nigeria
- Address: Q5 Danja Road, Off Katuru Road, Unguwar Sari, Kaduna State Nigeria
Conclusion
The most common DNA test done in Nigeria is Personal Paternity DNA test and it’s done for peace of mind purposes to ascertain whether or not an alleged father is the biological father of the child.
DNA test in Nigeria cost about N70,000 – N150,000 depending on the hospital, and the type of DNA test you want to run. All DNA test are not the same, some are more expensive than others.