The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has activated COVID-19 laboratories in Ogun and Katsina, bringing total molecular laboratory network in Nigeria to 28.
The Director-General of the NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the two laboratories were located at Afriglobal Medicare Laboratory in Ogun and the Sahel Centre for Molecular Diagnostics and Research, Katsina State.
Ihekweazu said the NCDC uses the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect persons infected with COVID-19.
“At the moment, the COVID-19 tests that we report daily are coming from the PCR. It detects genetic information of the virus, the RNA.
“PCR tests are used to directly detect the presence of an antigen rather than the presence of the body’s immune response or antibodies. By detecting viral RNA, the tests can tell whether or not someone has the virus very early,” Ihekweazu explained.
The NCDC boss said PCR test was the most effective. It involves screening samples taken from the nasopharyngeal with a sterile swab. He noted that the PCR test could be labour-intensive and mistakes might occur between sampling and analysis.
”This is why the agency has focused on strengthening quality assurance in its network of laboratories. Countries have varying strategies for COVID-19 diagnosis; in Nigeria, it is important that we get it right.
“Nigeria has its own national testing strategy for COVID-19 with detailed information on how we will ramp-up testing for various phases of transmission by leveraging existing technology,” Ihekweazu said.
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