11 Nigerian Labs Earn Global Accreditation For Reliable Diagnostics

Nigeria has taken a decisive step toward ending years of mistrust in medical test results, with 11 laboratories and research institutions attaining the globally recognised ISO 15189:2022 accreditation—a development health officials say could drastically reduce misdiagnosis, overseas sample referrals, and preventable deaths.

The certificates were issued by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria in partnership with Sightsavers, led by the acting registrar, Dr. Donald Ofili, marking what stakeholders described as a turning point for diagnostics in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

For decades, weak confidence in laboratory services forced Nigerian hospitals and wealthy patients to ship samples abroad before making major treatment decisions, delaying care and increasing costs. Authorities say that culture must now change.

Representing the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, Abubakar Ahmadu said the accreditation signalled the beginning of more reliable medical decision-making within Nigeria.

“This achievement marks a milestone in our collective commitment to strengthening healthcare quality within the Federal Capital Territory,” he said, stressing that accreditation “is not merely a certificate; it is a global affirmation of competence, accuracy, reliability, and adherence to internationally recognised quality management systems.”

He noted that the process required strict documentation, verification of staff competence, equipment calibration, and multiple layers of audits, adding, “It has not been an easy journey.”

Ofili described the certification of the 11 laboratories—including two military, two private, five public and two research facilities—as a defining shift in Nigeria’s health infrastructure.

“Today, we formally present ISO 15189:2022 accreditation certificates to 11 distinguished medical laboratory facilities that have successfully satisfied the stringent requirements for international accreditation,” he said.

According to him, the development goes beyond prestige and directly affects patient survival by improving diagnostic accuracy, disease surveillance, and treatment outcomes.

“ISO 15189:2022 accreditation confirms competence, impartiality, and consistent laboratory operations in accordance with internationally accepted standards. It enhances patient safety, supports accurate clinical decision-making, and strengthens disease surveillance,” Ofili said.

He warned, however, that certification comes with greater responsibility. “Accreditation is not a destination but a journey; sustaining it demands continuous audits, management reviews, and staff competency development.”

Representing the Sightsavers country director, Prof. Joy Shaibu, Perpetua Ojoma Agbi said Nigerians can now trust local laboratory reports.

“When you say something has become world standard, it means Nigeria is on the map of the world and that we can go into any lab with confidence and say a test result from there is exactly what it claims to be,” she said.

An academia, Prof. Sunday Akinde, representing the vice-chancellor of Osun State University, said improved diagnostics would reduce medical tourism and overseas sample shipment.

“Once we get it right with diagnostics, it will be much easier to manage healthcare. We’ve had cases where samples were taken out of the country because of a lack of trust in our laboratory system,” he said, noting that the accreditation must be renewed periodically to maintain standards.

From the military sector, Anastasia Nkechi Ossai of the Nigerian Navy said the certification meant military hospital test results are now internationally acceptable.