Nigeria’s Labs Seek ISO 15189 Upgrade for Better Care

Many labs in Nigeria still struggle to give accurate test results. The country has tried quality drives, but wide gaps remain. Only a handful of facilities meet top‑level standards.

Researchers looked at studies from 2010 up to mid‑2026. They scanned four big databases and several health groups. Out of 379 papers, only 55 fit the rules. Forty‑nine were grouped by theme, six were used for basic ideas.

Lab quality in Nigeria is uneven. Donor‑run reference labs do better than public ones. A program called SLMTA/SLIPTA lifted audit scores, even in Lagos. But less than 30 of the 5,000 clinics have ISO 15189 certification. Why? Too many bosses, not enough money, old equipment, few staff, weak digital tools, and low quality mindset.

The new ISO 15189:2022 brings a fresh view. It focuses on patients, uses risk checks, adds point‑of‑care tests, and lets docs write docs easier. That means authorities can fix governance, boost digital work, train more staff, and keep funding steady. If Nigeria can pull these pieces together, labs could become stronger and patients get better care.