Bukola Adebayo
The Centre for Human Virology and Genomics at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, has received the International Organisation, ISO 15189:2012 standards accreditation, the first for any government-owned laboratory in Nigeria.
The centre with the accreditation number M0588 has been listed as a South African National Accreditation System accredited medical testing laboratory.
NIMR Director- General, Prof. Babatunde Salako, said the accreditation will not only enhance testing of research samples by scientists at the institute , but also instill confidence in the results generated from tests done in the laboratory.
According to Salako, results from the CHVG laboratory which covers molecular diagnostics, serology and clinical chemistry can be compared with those produced by any accredited facility in the world.
He said, “Laboratory accreditation is highly regarded both nationally and internationally as a reliable indicator of technical competence.
“With this system of international recognition, data from accredited laboratories are readily accepted overseas.”
He added that the centre had now attained a status that would allow it to collaborate with relevant institutions to conduct research.
“We have expertise in the area of HIV, hepatitis B and C and we hope to include research on poliomyelitis, Lassa fever and other arboviruses very soon.”
He called on the Federal Ministry of Health to designate the research laboratory as the centre for HIV drug resistant testing and surveillance .
The Laboratory Director, CHVG, Dr Rosemary Audu, said the centre had embarked on the journey towards the accreditation and equipment of the laboratory in the past seven years.
Audu said,“ Data generated from the lab are more than ever before scientifically credible, legally defensible and they possess documentary evidences required for global trade.”
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