New Risk-Free Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test Launched by easyDNA

Johannesburg, South Africa- easyDNA, a leading DNA testing company has announced the launch of its risk-free prenatal paternity test. This test is based on the analysis of cell-free fetal DNA in the maternal bloodstream using highly advanced SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) microarray technology developed by Gene Security Network (GSN), a privately held genetics company. Apart from being extremely accurate, the prenatal test is also 100% risk-free for the unborn baby and the mother as it is carried out using standard blood samples.

Expanding on the benefits of their prenatal paternity test, Sales and Marketing Director, Mr. Andrew Alexander commented, “Our new prenatal paternity test does away with the traditional sampling techniques such as amniocenteses or CVS which are highly invasive. Instead sampling can now be done through a simple blood draw that can be performed by any qualified medical personnel. Therefore, sampling is 100% risk-free and it also does not require the involvement of expensive specialists for the sample collection. In terms of the technology, this test is truly groundbreaking and innovative. This aside, we always recommend advice from your family doctor before taking this test”

The company also highlighted a number of other benefits of this test, most noticeably the fact that the test can be done as early as just nine weeks of pregnancy, well within the first trimester.  Validation studies conducted by the laboratory have shown no difficulty in obtaining the necessary fetal DNA from the blood sample to complete the test. easyDNA has also noted that being able to carry out the non invasive test at 9 weeks provides an added advantage over alternative prenatal testing methods which require samples to be taken at a later stage in the pregnancy.

The test is greater than 99.9% accurate which is comparable to many  standard paternity tests performed after birth. Data on pre-clinical validation of the test was recently presented at the 23^rd International Symposium of Human Identification in Washington DC.As explained by Zachary Demko, PhD, Director of Research and Development at GSN, “Over 317,000 individual genetic markers known as SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism) are analyzed using microarray technology. Since these markers vary from person to person, evaluation of such a large number of markers creates a specific genetic blueprint. Through advanced bioinformatics software we compare these blueprints to establish or rule out paternity.”

Asked to elaborate on the difference between standard DNA tests and the prenatal test offered, the Dr. Demko stated “this test differs from traditional STR (short tandem repeat) based tests which measure areas of the genome where the number of copies of the genetic code vary from person to person.  When used on long strands of intact DNA, STR testing is very accurate. However, due to the highly fragmented state of cell-free fetal DNA found in the maternal blood – STR testing becomes ineffective when applied to prenatal paternity testing.”

easyDNA has launched the test in a number of countries and so far the response has been very positive. Commenting further Mr. Alexander stated, “Although we have only recently launched the test but we already seeing a very positive response to it. There is clearly an understanding that this new methodology has major benefits over the traditional methods. Of course we ”

The proprietary technology for genetic testing of tiny amounts of child DNA, as small as that from a single cell, is used at over one hundred in-vitro fertilization centers and hospitals around the world and has been published in the journal Human Reproduction. The technology has now been validated on cell free circulating DNA for paternity testing. That data has been submitted to AABB for certification and is also being prepared for submission to a peer reviewed journal.