WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY: GMLD CALLS FOR QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TO END FALSE GENOTYPE RESULTS IN NIGERIA
As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate World Sickle Cell Day on the 19th June 2026 with the theme “Closing the Survival Gap: Equity in Sickle Cell Disease” , stakeholders in the medical laboratory profession have renewed calls for stronger quality assurance systems, improved regulation, and investment in modern diagnostic technologies to reduce the burden of sickle cell disease in the country.
The Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors (GMLD) under the leadership of Dr Sam Fele, the National President while reflecting on the challenges surrounding genotype testing and sickle cell diagnosis in Nigeria, identified inadequate quality management systems, quackery, technical lapses and analytical errors as major factors contributing to conflicting genotype results and avoidable cases of sickle cell disease births.
Over the years, reports of intending couples receiving conflicting genotype test results from different laboratories have continued to surface. In some cases, couples who were initially informed that their genotypes were compatible later gave birth to children with sickle cell disease, raising concerns about the credibility of some testing centres.
According to the National Vice President South West of GMLD, Mr Olumuyiwa Onaneye, one of the major causes of such incidents is the proliferation of the laboratories operated by unqualified personnel.
He noted that monitoring team of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), working alongside the GMLD, recently participated in the closure of a facility in Ogun State where misleading and allegedly fake genotype results were being issued. The facility, according to him, was owned and operated by an individual who was not a qualified Medical Laboratory Scientist.
The association urged Nigerians to be vigilant and ensure that laboratory investigations are conducted only in properly accredited facilities managed by qualified professionals. It also encouraged members of the public to report suspected quack laboratories to relevant authorities.
The Chairman of GMLD Lagos, Mrs Mark Doris Chinelo Callistus stressed that inaccurate genotype and sickle cell test results may arise from poorly calibrated laboratory equipment, inadequate maintenance practices, expired reagents, and improper storage conditions.
To address these challenges, she emphasized the urgent need for all medical laboratories in Nigeria to fully implement Quality Management Systems (QMS).
The National Secretary General of GMLD, Igwe Akujuobi said the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, as the regulatory authority for medical laboratories in the country, has continued to encourage and enforce the adoption of Quality Management Systems as a critical step toward ensuring reliable and accurate laboratory results.
“With effective Quality Management Systems in place, many of these challenges will become a thing of the past,” Igwe stated.
Addressing concerns about the widespread mistrust of genotype results, which often compels Nigerians to repeat tests in multiple laboratories, Dr Fele acknowledged that the problem is multifaceted. It identified inadequate funding for modern diagnostic equipment, insufficient training and re-training of laboratory professionals, poor quality management system and poor reagent quality control as major obstacles to achieving nationwide confidence in laboratory results.
The association maintained that achieving a nationally standardized genotype testing system comparable to those in many developed countries would require sustained investment in laboratory infrastructure, continuous professional development, and strict adherence to internationally accepted quality standards.
Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest burden of sickle cell disease globally. While significant progress has been made in public awareness, screening, counselling, and diagnosis, the GMLD believes more work remains to be done.
The stakeholders emphasized that the widespread implementation of Quality Management Systems across all laboratories could substantially reduce the incidence of false genotype results and help strengthen public confidence in laboratory services.
The organization also highlighted the need for greater access to advanced diagnostic technologies. While modern diagnostic platforms offer improved accuracy compared to many conventional testing methods, their high acquisition and maintenance costs remain a challenge for many laboratories.
To bridge this gap, the GMLD President called on the Federal Government to introduce incentives that would support laboratory practitioners in acquiring modern medical and laboratory equipment. It pointed to previous government interventions in other sectors of healthcare, including import waivers granted to pharmaceutical stakeholders, as examples that could be replicated for laboratory services.
On concerns that Nigeria has become a destination for outdated, refurbished, and near-end-of-life medical equipment imported from developed countries, Dr Fele expressed support for stronger government policies to discourage such practices.
According to the association, the continued influx of obsolete equipment may undermine diagnostic accuracy and contribute to inconsistent laboratory results. It therefore urged policymakers to strengthen regulations that promote the importation and use of new, properly calibrated, and quality-assured medical devices.
As the nation marks World Sickle Cell Day, the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors (GMLD) reiterated that the future of accurate genotype testing and effective sickle cell disease prevention lies in strict regulatory oversight, continuous professional development, investment in modern technologies, and universal adoption of Quality Management Systems.