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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has released a guidance document, including a checklist, on how private laboratories with molecular diagnostic capacity can join the national coronavirus laboratory network for testing for the virus.
The Director General, NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu on Tuesday in Abuja, said all private sector laboratories should have valid registration with relevant national and state authorities to perform diagnostic testing.
Ihekweazu said all staff working within the facilities should be appropriately trained and registered with appropriate national bodies, stressing that private laboratories should abide by the roles of public health laboratories.
“Where feasible, testing should be conducted at no cost to the patient. If private patients are charged for diagnostic tests, it should be at a fixed cost with no additional charges.
“Private laboratories should agree to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state health authorities, while the NCDC will provide overall coordination and technical support,” the NCDC boss said.
Ihekweazu told News Agency of Nigeria, NANS that the NCDC would be committed to supplying reagents and extraction kits for continued operations, adding that where possible, private sector laboratories should work with states to procure reagents.
He explained: “Other principles of engagement are that the laboratories must maintain continuity of operations; establish and maintain the ability to sustain operations over mid to long-term periods.
“Ensure effective information exchange, ensure timely exchange of laboratory information and data with laboratory network coordinator, the state level EOC and national EOC and other stakeholders.
“The private laboratories must also maintain chain of custody procedures, ensure chain of custody requirements are maintained throughout the sample management process.
“They must facilitate access to training, provide resources for training, for testing, collection of specimens, handling, packaging, and shipping samples.
“Ensure technical standards, participate in national and international quality assurance panels to demonstrate technical competencies.”
The NCDC boss also disclosed that the mechanisms of engagement of the private sector, as part of national COVID-19 testing laboratory network, would be between the state and private sector laboratories, with technical guidance and support from the NCDC.
“A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) may be signed between the state and the private sector that provides details of cost implications and operational support.
“As part of its national mandate, the NCDC is responsible for providing technical support to the private laboratory,” he stated.
