If you are curious to know your ethnic ancestry, interested in getting a detailed report of your genetic health traits, or you want to determine paternity and draw an accurate family tree, then you must take a DNA test.
Also called genetic testing, it is a scientific examination conducted in a DNA sequence or chromosome structure through ribonucleic acid (RNA) analysis to determine a gene expression.
The variation across the genome depicts the differences amongst people, and that is why you can know your relative through DNA testing. This guide provides the essential information on where DNA tests are conducted in Kenya, their cost, and the duration of the entire process.
There are three main types of DNA testing: Y-chromosome (or Y-DNA), mitochondrial (or mtDNA), and autosomal.
How much does DNA testing cost in Kenya?
A 24-marker DNA test cost an average of Ksh10,000 per person, and because one person cannot do a DNA test as it involves comparison, the fee for a genetic test for an alleged father and a child adds to Ksh20,000.
On the other hand, the 44-marker DNA test costs around Ksh17,000 per individual, and this subtotals to Ksh35,000 for two.
The price of the two different DNA tests varies because the higher the marker number, the more accurate the results because the 44-marker DNA test captures a broad spectrum of variations than 24-markers.
How much does a DNA test for an unborn child cost in Kenya? (Prenatal paternity test)
A prenatal DNA paternity test is done in cases where a man disputes his paternity to the unborn child. There are two types of Prenatal paternity tests categorized based on their complexity, safety, and time factor.
The first one is Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) which costs above Ksh150,000 in Kenya. Aside from proving or dismissing paternity, it can determine the risk that the foetus will be born with certain genetic abnormalities by analyzing the DNA in a pregnant woman’s blood.
The second one is an invasive prenatal test that costs around Ksh40,000, but it involves a small risk of miscarriage for entailing a process of piercing through the womb using a needle to collect amniotic fluid samples for testing.
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How long does a DNA test take in Kenya?
A paternity DNA test results are usually presented after 5 working days, while Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) takes around 10 days and about 14 days for invasive prenatal testing.
Hospitals offering DNA (paternity) test in Kenya, and their prices
You might be asking yourself – where can I get a DNA test in Kenya? – and we got an answer. Here are the best hospitals and DNA sequencing clinics that offer genetic testing in Kenya:
1. Nairobi Hospital
Nairobi Hospital is among the best hospitals in Kenya, with state-of-the-art laboratories like the Main Laboratory, Doctors Plaza Lab, UHMC Lab, Warwick Lab, and Galleria Lab that offer DNA testing services and deliver results within 3 days.
For the testing to be done, both parents and the child must be present, and one should submit a court order if it is a legal requirement. You can also visit with a witness or a lawyer.
The cost of conducting a DNA test at Nairobi Hospital is around Ksh100,000.
2. Bioinformatics Institute of Kenya (KIBS)
This is one of the cheapest clinics that conduct DNA testing in Kenya. It charges Ksh20,000 for alleged father and child genetic tests and Ksh150,000 for noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT). The results are always accurate to 99.999 percent.
KIBS DNA clinic is located in Viraj Complex, Block 4, Maasai Road off Mombasa Road, opposite JKIA Junction, Nairobi.
3. The American Embassy
Embassies usually have a department for testing DNA to cater to people who wish to immigrate to the US through Family Sponsorship Program.
You can visit this place to get DNA testing services which cost around Ksh4,000 per person and Ksh8,000 for two individuals.
The US Embassy in Kenya is located along United Nations Avenue, Off Limuru Road, Nairobi.
4. AlphaBiolabs Kenya
This is the newest DNA sequencing clinic in Kenya. It offers DNA and relationship tests for above Ksh30,000. They detect a maximum of 42 genetic markers with diversified services that include a home sample collection option and multilingual tests, and your results will be sent through email within five working days.
AlphaBiolabs is located on Purshottam Place 7th floor, Westlands Road, Nairobi.
5. Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is a state corporation established in 1979 through the Science and Technology (Repealed) Act, Cap 250, to operate under the Ministry of Health with a key responsibility of researching human health.
Did you know that KEMRI conducts DNA testing? For only Ksh20,000, you will know the paternity of a child, and you can also get an individual DNA profile at Ksh10,000.
6. EasyDNA Kenya
EasyDNA is an international organization of clinics with its base in KMA Plaza, Suite 207, Upperhill, Nairobi. It has over 25 offices in other countries hence the ability to organize a DNA test even if individuals live in separate countries.
The cost of DNA testing at EasyDNA Kenya starts from as low as Ksh24,000, and results are issued within 3-5 working days.
