Can Nigeria Achieve Reliable Laboratory Results Without Investing in Laboratory Quality?

Imagine visiting a hospital, paying for a laboratory test and waiting anxiously for your result, only to discover that the result is inaccurate. The doctor may make a decision based on that report, and the consequences could affect your health. This is one reason laboratory quality should never be treated as an optional part of healthcare.

As Medical Laboratory Science students, we are learning that producing a laboratory result involves much more than collecting a sample, adding reagents and operating equipment. Every stage matters, from collecting and labelling the sample correctly to analysing it and reporting the result. A mistake at any point can affect the final outcome.

During practical classes, we are often reminded of the importance of following procedures, handling specimens properly and paying attention to details. These lessons have made me appreciate that accuracy in the laboratory is not achieved by chance. It requires the right knowledge, equipment, working conditions and commitment to quality.

So, can Nigeria achieve reliable laboratory results without investing in laboratory quality? In my opinion, it would be very difficult. We cannot expect laboratories to consistently produce accurate and dependable results if they lack the basic resources needed to do their work properly.

Quality is more than having laboratory equipment

When people talk about improving laboratories, the first thing that may come to mind is purchasing modern machines. While equipment is important, laboratory quality goes beyond that. Reliable results also depend on trained personnel, quality reagents, regular equipment maintenance, proper sample handling, internal quality control and external quality assessment.

For example, even a modern analyser may produce questionable results if it is poorly maintained, incorrectly calibrated or used with unsuitable reagents. Similarly, a laboratory can have competent staff but still struggle if electricity supply is unreliable or essential consumables are frequently unavailable.

These challenges show why investment in laboratory quality must be comprehensive. Buying equipment without providing maintenance, training and a sustainable supply of reagents may solve only part of the problem.

Why accreditation matters

Another important part of laboratory quality is accreditation. The international standard ISO 15189:2022 specifies requirements for quality and competence in medical laboratories. It provides a framework for laboratories to assess their processes, manage risks, demonstrate competence and continually improve their services.

A 2026 review examining its implementation in Nigeria highlighted several challenges, including inadequate funding, weak infrastructure, workforce shortages and fragmented oversight. The review also reported that only a small proportion of Nigeria's thousands of clinical laboratories had achieved ISO 15189 accreditation. This suggests that expanding access to quality laboratory services remains an important task.

Read the 2026 review (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/health-services/articles/10.3389/frhs.2026.1850576/full).

Accreditation should not simply be about displaying a certificate on the wall. It should reflect a genuine commitment to reliable testing, patient safety and continuous improvement. However, laboratories need financial and technical support to meet and maintain the required standards.

The role of government and laboratory management

Funding is a major part of the discussion. Laboratory quality requires continuous investment, not occasional spending when a problem becomes obvious. Governments and healthcare managers need to prioritise laboratory infrastructure, reliable power, equipment servicing, staff training and the availability of essential reagents and consumables.

There should also be stronger support for quality management systems, regular audits and professional development. Laboratories need a working culture where errors are reported, investigated and corrected rather than hidden out of fear. This helps prevent repeated mistakes and encourages improvement.

I also believe laboratory professionals should be involved in decisions concerning diagnostic services and healthcare funding. They understand the practical challenges of producing reliable results and can help policymakers identify where resources are most urgently needed.

What can we do as future Medical Laboratory Scientists?

Although many of these challenges require institutional and government action, we also have responsibilities as students and future professionals. We can begin by taking practical training seriously, understanding quality control, following standard operating procedures and developing good laboratory habits.

We should also learn more about laboratory accreditation and quality management rather than seeing them as topics we only need to pass in examinations. The habits we develop during training will influence how we work when we eventually become professionals.

Most importantly, we must remember that behind every sample is a person waiting for answers. A laboratory result is not just a number on paper; it can influence a diagnosis, treatment decision or public health response.

The way forward

Nigeria can improve the reliability of laboratory results, but this requires a deliberate and sustained commitment to quality. Government, laboratory management, regulatory bodies and laboratory professionals all have roles to play. Investment should cover not only equipment but also infrastructure, personnel, quality systems and accreditation support.

Ultimately, the question is not whether laboratory quality is expensive. The question is whether we can afford the consequences of neglecting it.

Reliable laboratory results are essential to reliable healthcare. If we want better diagnosis and safer patient care in Nigeria, investing in laboratory quality must be part of the plan.

I would love to hear from fellow MLS students and professionals. What do you think is the biggest barrier to achieving reliable laboratory results in Nigeria? Is it inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, limited accreditation, or something else?

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