Category Archives: Press Release


Expecting a baby? Looking for ways to learn more about your baby's chromosomal health during pregnancy? MyAfroDNA now offers Rapid Prenatal Aneuploidy Testing, a non-invasive genetic screening service designed to help expectant mothers and healthcare providers gain early insights into selected chromosomal conditions.Pregnancy comes with many questions, and having access to relevant health information can make a difference in how expectant parents and their healthcare providers navigate the journey.Advances in genetic science have made it possible to screen for certain chromosomal abnormalities during pregnancy without invasive procedures.





One such development is Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT). At MyAfroDNA, we are making this technology more accessible through our Rapid Aneuploidy Testing service, providing expectant mothers and healthcare facilities in Nigeria with access to specialised prenatal genetic screening.With a simple blood sample from the mother and results available within seven days, the service offers an additional source of genetic information to support informed conversations and pregnancy care.What Is Rapid Aneuploidy Testing?Aneuploidy occurs when a cell has an abnormal number of chromosomes. Some chromosomal abnormalities can affect a baby's development and are associated with genetic conditions.





MyAfroDNA's Rapid Aneuploidy Testing uses Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT), which analyses cell-free DNA circulating in the mother's bloodstream to screen for selected chromosomal abnormalities in the developing baby.Unlike invasive prenatal diagnostic procedures, NIPT requires a blood sample from the pregnant mother.





The test screens for:





- Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome): A chromosomal condition caused by an additional copy of chromosome 21.





- Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome): A condition associated with an additional copy of chromosome 18.





- Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome): A condition associated with an additional copy of chromosome 13.





- Sex chromosome abnormalities: Including conditions such as Turner syndrome.NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. It estimates the likelihood of selected chromosomal conditions but cannot confirm whether a baby has a particular condition. A high-risk result should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional, who may recommend further diagnostic testing.





Why Consider Prenatal Aneuploidy Testing?





For expectant mothers, prenatal genetic screening can provide additional information about a developing baby's chromosomal health. MyAfroDNA's Rapid Aneuploidy Testing offers:





1. Non-invasive sample collection. The test requires a blood sample from the pregnant mother, avoiding the need for an invasive procedure to obtain the sample for screening.





2. Early genetic insightsScreening can provide information about the likelihood of selected chromosomal abnormalities during pregnancy.





3. Timely resultsMyAfroDNA offers a turnaround time of approximately seven days, subject to sample acceptance and applicable assay requirements.





4. Support for informed decisionsThe results can help expectant mothers and their healthcare providers determine appropriate next steps in pregnancy care.





5. Expert supportOur team provides guidance throughout the testing process.For Expectant Mothers: How to Access the TestYou do not have to navigate the process alone. MyAfroDNA works with healthcare providers to make prenatal aneuploidy screening accessible through a straightforward referral and sample collection process.





Here is how it works:





1. Contact MyAfroDNA: Express your interest in prenatal aneuploidy testing.





2. Get referred to a partner clinic: Our team will guide you to a participating healthcare facility.





3. Sample collection: A blood sample is collected at the partner clinic.





4. Laboratory analysis: Your sample is sent to MyAfroDNA for processing and analysis.





5. Receive your results: Results are made available within approximately seven days, subject to applicable testing requirements.Interested in getting tested? Contact MyAfroDNA to enquire about the service, available partner clinics and how to book your test. Email: info@myafrodna.com





Are you a Healthcare Providers? Partner with MyAfroDNA for Rapid Aneuploidy Testing





We recognise that obstetricians, gynaecologists, fertility specialists, IVF clinics and other reproductive healthcare professionals play an important role in helping expectant mothers access appropriate prenatal screening. MyAfroDNA is inviting healthcare providers and reproductive health facilities across Nigeria to explore partnership opportunities for Rapid Aneuploidy Testing.Through this collaboration, healthcare facilities can refer patients for testing and facilitate sample collection, while MyAfroDNA provides laboratory testing and support.





Benefits of Partnering with MyAfroDNA





- Access to specialised prenatal aneuploidy screening.





- Reliable laboratory support.





- A seven-day results turnaround, subject to sample acceptance and assay requirements.





- A structured referral and sample collection workflow.





- Technical guidance and support throughout the testing process.





Who Can Partner? We welcome expressions of interest from:- Fertility centres and IVF clinics.- Obstetricians and gynaecologists.- Reproductive medicine specialists.- Hospitals and maternal healthcare facilities.- Diagnostic and reproductive health centres.





Interested in becoming a MyAfroDNA partner? Complete our partnership application to tell us about your facility, available sample collection capabilities and interest in collaborating. At MyAfroDNA, we believe that access to genetic insights should be an important part of conversations about healthcare and well-being.By bringing together biotechnology, laboratory expertise and healthcare providers, we are working to expand access to specialised genetic testing services in Nigeria. Whether you are an expectant mother seeking additional information about your baby's chromosomal health or a healthcare professional looking to expand the services available to your patients, MyAfroDNA is ready to explore how we can support you.



MyAfroDNA, an African biotechnology company focused on advancing genomics research and innovation on the African continent, has announced the acquisition and deployment of the MGI CycloneSEQ™ genome sequencer, becoming the first facility in West Africa to deploy this advanced, portable sequencing platform.





CycloneSEQ is a cost-efficient long-read sequencing platform suitable for generating high-quality reference genomes across diverse biological systems. Its accuracy, scalable throughput, and streamlined workflows support reliable genome sequencing, assembly, and variant resolution, enabling large-scale sequencing projects with reduced per-sample cost compared to conventional long-read approaches. The system’s compact footprint and stable operation make it appropriate for sustained deployment in African research environments, facilitating locally led genome projects while strengthening regional capacity and data stewardship.









Figure 1: Photo of recently acquired CycloneSEQ genome sequencer deployed at MyAfroDNA facility in Port Harcourt, Nigeria





The CycloneSEQ™ significantly strengthens MyAfroDNA’s capacity to perform high-resolution, high-accuracy genomic sequencing, enabling applications across human health, agriculture, biodiversity, and environmental research. This milestone marks a major step toward expanding Africa’s ability to generate and analyze genomic data locally, reducing reliance on external sequencing infrastructure.





“The acquisition of the CycloneSEQ™ genome sequencer significantly strengthens our ability to generate high-quality whole-genome data locally and at scale. It allows us to support research across health, agriculture, and biodiversity, while ensuring African-led projects are powered by African infrastructure, expertise, and data ownership,” said Dr. Justin Eze Ideozu, Founder of MyAfroDNA.





Designed for precision and scalability, the CycloneSEQ™ supports whole-genome sequencing, reference genome development, population genomics, and accurate detection of genetic variants. Its flexible workflows enable MyAfroDNA to support both targeted studies and large-scale genomic projects requiring high data quality.





As part of this deployment, MyAfroDNA will immediately begin generating high-quality reference genomes to support biodiversity and conservation genomics in partnership with the African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) and the West Africa Regional Node of the AfricaBP, Regional Center for Biotechnology and Bioresources Research (RCBBR), University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.





“The presence of CycloneSEQ™ at MyAfroDNA is a significant development which will certainly inject life into the Endangered and Endemic Species BioGenome Project of the West African Regional node of AfricaBP. It will, as well, facilitate realization of the AfricaBP-10KP 2.0 and AfricaBP Plant Genome Projects. Hopefully, our first genome sequence will be rolled out soon. I sincerely congratulate Dr Justin Eze Ideozu and MyAfroDNA for achieving this great milestone”, said Professor Julian Osuji, AfricaBP West Africa Regional Node Coordinator and Director of the Regional Center for Biotechnology and Bioresources Research (RCBBR), University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.





“We are happy to see the CycloneSEQ™ deployed in West Africa with MyAfroDNA. This installation represents what MGI aims to achieve globally - democratizing access to advanced sequencing technologies. We look forward to supporting MyAfroDNA and AfricaBP in their mission to sequence Africa’s endemic species by placing high-accuracy long-read capabilities directly into the hands of African researchers", said Chen Fang, General Manager of MGI Europe and Africa.





“MyAfroDNA and MGI are two strong partners of the African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) who have demonstrated strong commitments to the African genomics and molecular biology landscape. To sequence African indigenous and endemic biological species will require intentional investments by African organisations, and I’m quite pleased (and particularly proud) to see MyAfroDNA take this bold step in acquiring the portable CycloneSEQ genome sequencer. This is a testament to the AfricaBP ecosystem in enabling partnerships, collaborations, and local investments, adding to its progress of consistently provoking local actions. The AfricaBP cannot wait to kickstart its sequencing with MyAfroDNA, and supporting biodiversity genome sequencing in Africa”, said Dr. ThankGod Echezona Ebenezer, Founder and Co-Chair, AfricaBP.





This acquisition positions West Africa as an active contributor to global genomics and life sciences research. By enabling in-region sequencing, MyAfroDNA will support universities, research institutes, conservation organizations, biotechnology companies, and policymakers with access to advanced genomic infrastructure previously unavailable in the region.





This development reinforces MyAfroDNA’s broader mission to strengthen Africa’s biotechnology ecosystem and apply genomics to real-world challenges in health, agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and environmental sustainability.





About MyAfroDNA





We are an African biotechnology company that provides solutions to the significant lack of African representation in clinical, genomics, and translational research. Contact us for questions: info@myafrodna.com