Rapid Genome Sequencing Introduced for Sick Children in Dubai

Dubai Health has introduced rapid whole-genome sequencing for critically ill infants and children suspected of having inherited conditions, allowing doctors to reach diagnoses within three to four days.

The testing is being carried out through the Little Falcon programme for selected patients in the neonatal intensive care unit at Latifa Hospital and the paediatric intensive care unit at Al Jalila Children’s Hospital.

Rapid whole-genome sequencing examines a patient’s full genetic material in a single process, rather than relying on a sequence of narrower genetic tests. The previous approach could require repeated testing if an initial test did not identify the mutation responsible for a patient’s condition.

A study published in Nature Medicine examined the programme’s use among 100 critically ill patients from 18 Middle Eastern and Asian countries. Most were Dubai residents, while the vast majority were under one year old. The rapid approach produced a clear diagnosis in 53% of patients, compared with 30% under the previous testing pathway.

The programme is offered to infants and older children admitted to neonatal or paediatric intensive care units with illnesses of unknown cause and clinical signs suggesting a single-gene disorder. These can include very low muscle tone, persistent seizures, abnormal electrical activity in the brain and a family history of genetic disease.

Costs have also fallen significantly. The average cost of rapid whole-genome sequencing has dropped from around USD 9,200 per patient several years ago to between USD 3,500 and USD 4,500 today.

Implementing the service still requires established intensive care facilities, genomics expertise and multidisciplinary clinical teams working within an accredited framework. Dubai Health’s programme operates under accreditation from the College of American Pathologists.