Abuja: The Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) has urged publicly owned medical laboratories to pursue international accreditation to strengthen the quality, reliability, and credibility of laboratory services across the country. Dr. Donald Ofili, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of MLSCN, made the call in Abuja during the presentation of ISO 15189:2022 accreditation and re-accreditation certificates to six medical laboratory facilities.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the accredited facilities include the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Lagos Laboratory, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) Diagnostics Laboratory, Labcrest Medical Diagnostics and Clinic, Agape Laboratory Services Ltd., and OncoGenomics Laboratories, while EL-Lab Laboratories received re-accreditation. None of these facilities are government-owned, prompting Ofili to urge public laboratories to attain similar standards by embracing accreditation and enhancing quality management systems nationwide.
Dr. Ofili emphasized the significance of ISO 15189:2022 as an internationally recognized benchmark for the competence, quality, and impartiality of medical laboratories, ensuring services meet globally accepted professional standards consistently. He highlighted that accreditation signifies the dependability and accuracy of a laboratory’s management system, technical competence, and reported results in supporting quality patient care.
He explained that accreditation decisions are made by an Independent Advisory Committee following assessments by the MLSCN Accreditation Service, which ensures transparency and professional oversight. Ofili noted that accredited laboratories must maintain compliance through periodic surveillance visits to ensure sustained standards and effective quality systems.
The council’s commitment to ensuring dependable laboratory results and quality services nationwide was reaffirmed by Ofili, who stated, ‘Quality-assured laboratory science is a right of every Nigerian, not a privilege.’ Accreditation is expected to improve patient safety, promote reliable results, enhance international recognition, and support research and collaboration across laboratories.
Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi, President of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), praised the accredited facilities for achieving international recognition and commended MLSCN for providing independent assessments. He urged the Federal Government to support public laboratories in adopting quality management systems and pursuing accreditation due to their significant role in medical testing.
Mr. Samuel Felle, President of the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors (GMLD), congratulated the accredited facilities and called for the establishment of a Healthcare Bank to finance critical sector needs. This institution could support the procurement of laboratory equipment and other healthcare commodities.
Dr. Elochukwu Adibo, Managing Director of EL-Lab Laboratories, described accreditation as a significant milestone due to the independent external assessment process. He noted that maintaining accreditation requires continuous staff training, consistent operations, and strong management commitment.
Mrs. Doris Calistus of Agape Laboratory Services Ltd. and Mrs. Faduola Oluwakemi, Managing Director of OncoGenomics Laboratory, highlighted the accreditation’s importance in strengthening the reproducibility and standardization of laboratory results, particularly in DNA testing and forensic investigations.
Stakeholders in the sector urged more laboratories, especially public facilities, to embrace ISO 15189:2022 accreditation to enhance the quality of medical laboratory services nationwide.