No fewer than 12 medical laboratories have been sealed by the Akwa Ibom state Ministry of Health alongside the standards of the Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (LSCN).

Speaking to select journalists in Uyo at the weekend, shortly after the inspection team had sealed the laboratories, the Commissioner of Health, Prof Augustine Umoh, said the exercise was in compliance with a directive from the state executive council over sub-standard services of medical lab operators in the state.

The commissioner listed offences of the sealed laboratories to include lack of certificate of registration with the State Ministry of Health, non-evidence of registration with Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria, lack of qualified laboratory scientists and other supporting staff in the kaboratories.

Other offences were lack of standard test result booklet, none provision of laboratory register, lack of personal operating license of laboratory technicians as well as unethical and dangerous practices.

He said, “I have received a number of complains with regards to medical laboratory facilities and practices and the operation is an attempt to correct some of this abnormalities.

“As a matter of fact , the state Executive Council that has also received many of this reports has also directed that this exercise be carried out . So our intention is to use this exercise to give further directive to the practice if laboratory services in the state.”

The commissioner disclosed that monitoring. edical laboratories will be extended to other parts of the state.

“We are going out on monitoring, to make sure that laboratory facility services in the state are in conformity with what is expected to the extent that the practices are at least of the best practices.

“We have started with medical laboratories in uyo metropolis, but we would certainly extend it to all nooks and crannies of the state,” he stressed.

The head of the inspection team, Dr Udoh, said lack of precision in medical laboratory tests administered to patients has resulted in wrong diagnosis as well as wrong prescriptions.

According to the team leader, the clamp down on fake laboratories in the state would continue in the new year till the health sector is repositioned to achieve health for all in completion agenda of the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

He explained that the laboratories sealed would only be reopened when their proprietors have fulfilled all conditions by the state Ministry of Health, including engagement of competent technical personnel in their laboratory facilities.