The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has announced the inclusion of 5 new labs in its Molecular Laboratory Network.

The NCDC made the announce in a series of tweets on Tuesday.

It noted that the 5 new labs are:

Specialist Hospital, Benin
ATBU Teaching Hospital, Bauchi
Rivers Indorama Company Molecular Lab
State Specialist Hospital, Amachara, Abia
University of Abuja, Gwagwalada GX Lab

With this addition, there are currently 58 labs in 30 states with the capacity to test for COVID-19 in Nigeria.”

In its National testing strategy outline released on Tuesday is said that, the NCDC is currently working with State governments and other tertiary health facilities to identify other laboratories with required capacities such as existing PCR capacity and biosafety level 2 cabinets to roll out testing, leveraging on existing laboratories for Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers and polio.

“The NCDC is funding sample transportation from state capitals to testing
laboratories using a private courier company (TRANEX)”.

“The NCDC is expanding the availability of trained state personnel on sample
collection. This activity began in February 2020.”

“The digital tool for surveillance- SORMAS is being rolled out in all testing
laboratories to implement real time data reporting. Data clerks have been assigned to each facility to assist with data management”.

“Validated diagnostic test kits have been procured through multiple sources to ensure availability of reagents given the global shortages and restriction of flights”.