Abuja, 19 January, 2023 – A Nigerian laboratory, the Central Public Well being Laboratory (CPHL), Lagos, lately attained a World Well being Group (WHO) full laboratory accreditation standing in respect of its contribution to the struggle in opposition to measles and rubella within the nation.
The CPHL is likely one of the laboratories underneath the Nigeria Centre For Illness Management (NCDC) Measles and Rubella laboratory community.
The WHO full accreditated standing is the very best accreditation stage that may be achieved by any laboratory.
The centre acquired the standing for serology testing for measles and rubella after an on-site evaluation of the ability, for offering a high-quality investigation to help testing and surveillance programme within the management of childhood killer illnesses in Nigeria.
Talking at a gathering after the evaluation of the laboratory, the WHO Nation Consultant, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, says CPHL’ s achievement of the WHO full accreditation standing would enhance the nation’s effort in its quest to remove the childhood killer illnesses.
Pledging WHO’s steady help to make sure the laboratories within the nation attain WHO full accreditation for the prognosis of measles and rubella, he appreciated the Nigerian authorities and the administration of NCDC and CPHL for efforts in strengthening the standard of laboratory testing for measles and rubella regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“WHO full accreditation standing attained by the laboratory is a good achievement to Nigeria as high quality laboratory is important to understanding the affect of a rustic’s vaccination programme on the prevalence and unfold of illness”, he mentioned.
CPHL was for the primary time awarded a full WHO accreditation standing. The rating underlines that the laboratory operates with wonderful technical efficiency, persistently reaching excessive scores on all WHO accreditation efficiency indicators.
Whereas measles continues to be a number one reason for childhood morbidity and mortality in lots of international locations, together with Nigeria, a laboratory affirmation of suspected instances is important to coordinate surveillance and curbing the transmission of the illnesses.
Accreditation Overview
To this impact, WHO coordinates a worldwide community of measles and rubella laboratories to facilitate high-quality laboratory investigation and accreditation is finished based mostly on a radical high quality evaluation by technical specialists.
In commendation for the outcome, the Director Normal, NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, says the achievement was potential because of the dedication of his predecessor, diligent arduous work of colleagues, and the sturdy help of companions that led to the centre’s skill to have the capability to detect precedence illnesses together with however not restricted to, Mpox, cholera, cerebrospinal meningitis, measles, and rubella.
“I’m particularly proud and rejoice CPHL accreditation for measles and rubella testing in Nigeria by WHO. As certainly one of Nigeria’s oldest public well being services, this laboratory has reworked into one able to contributing to the fulfilment of our mandate to guard the well being of Nigerians,” he says.
The WHO accreditation of measles and rubella laboratories is often reviewed yearly based mostly on the efficiency of the laboratory through the instantly previous 12 months. As soon as a lab is accredited, WHO supplies technical help and periodically evaluates and reassesses whereas specializing in the purpose of steady high quality enchancment.
In the meantime, CPHL had beforehand undergone two accreditation workouts in 2015 and 2017 and was granted provisional accreditation.
Nevertheless, the results of the 2022 on-site evaluation and accreditation has positioned this large laboratory on a highlight following its pronouncement as the primary reference laboratory to be absolutely accredited for the prognosis of measles and rubella in Nigeria.
By way of the GAVI Well being System Strengthening fund, WHO has been capable of help NCDC to implement undertaking to strengthening the surveillance and laboratory capability to reply to measles and rubella outbreaks.
Implication for Nigeria measles campaigns
Below the ISO 15189 normal, a laboratory’s competence is assured through an on-site evaluation course of and participation in relevant Proficiency Testing applications. Consistent with this international normal WHO developed a guidelines structured in two sections – Normal evaluation/general findings and Serology evaluation.
The accreditation of laboratories improves the facilitation of correct and fast diagnostics, effectivity of remedy and discount of errors within the laboratory course of. The function laboratories play as key gamers in illness prevention, management and response throughout public well being emergencies can’t be over-emphasized. Laboratory take a look at outcomes affect many areas of public well being together with illness surveillance and management. This attainment will assist to construct confidence of the Nigerians on the laboratory outcomes.
Technical contact:
Ekanem Blessing; E-mail: ekanemb [at] who.int
