November 12, 2024
On the hills of Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria, in a modest but bustling facility tucked away from public view, testing, precision, accuracy, traceability, and cost-efficiency are the pillars that define the Defence Reference Laboratory’s (DRL) Calibration Laboratory.
Engineer Oladapo Akinseli, who heads calibration services, sheds light on the laboratory’s critical role in advancing Nigeria’s scientific, research and medical capacities as it addresses the requirements for the competence of testing and equipment calibration in line with ISO /IEC 17025: 2017 standard requirements.
Currently, the DRL’s primary calibration needs are temperature (thermometers), relative humidity (thermo-hygrometers), and piston-operated volumetric apparatus, rotary speed (centrifuges), and temperature-controlled chambers. The calibration laboratory ensures the highest standards of precision, accuracy and traceability. Though small in scale, the calibration laboratory boasts impressive capabilities. It calibrates thermometers used in vital medical and research equipment for parameter monitoring, including incubators, fridges, freezers, and room temperature in the laboratories.
Precision and accuracy, as Engr. Oladapo explains, is not a matter of convenience but a necessity, especially in the world of clinical/laboratory research, where even the smallest deviation can affect outcomes, significantly. According to him, the calibration laboratory ensures that measurements are not only accurate and precise but also traceable, meaning that any calibration done within the facility can be replicated with the same degree of accuracy anywhere in the world.
A Strategic Investment for the Future
Asked about the rationale behind the establishment of the calibration laboratory, Engr. Oladapo noted that before its inception, there were few facilities within the country capable of providing these essential services. Calibration had to be outsourced to Ghana or other international laboratories, resulting in high costs and logistical complications. The establishment of the DRL in-house ancillary calibration laboratory slashed calibration costs by nearly 75%, saving around $15,000 annually for the program and improving the reliability of the process. “Shipping sensitive equipment internationally is risky and costly,” Engr. Oladapo explains. “Having an in-house ancillary calibration laboratory”, an idea that received unfailing support from the Executive Director of HJF Medical Research International, Dr Samuel Davis, “cuts those risks and builds local expertise.” Indeed, building local capacity has been one of the lab’s key objectives. Trained professionals now handle all calibration procedures, fostering sustainability. The laboratory serves the Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme, and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Africa (NMODHIP-WRAIR Africa) supported sites, ensuring their ancillary laboratory equipment perform with the highest accuracy.
Savings and Expansion: A Guided Tour
During a tour of the calibration laboratory, Engr. Oladapo pointed out various equipment awaiting calibration, such as the piston-operated volumetric apparatus, thermometers, and thermo-hygrometers used in clinical, routine and research applications. “Each piece of equipment we calibrate helps ensure the accuracy of data in crucial investigations and medical treatments,” he said. The tour offered a glimpse into the laboratory’s potential.
Its ability to serve a broader audience beyond the military and program-related facilities. However, there is one significant hurdle; the laboratory is not yet open to the public because of the on-going process towards international accreditation in line with ISO/ IEC 17025: 2017 standard requirements status.
Paving the Way for Global Standards
Achieving international accreditation is a top priority for the laboratory’s future growth. The DRL’s management team is working towards achieving ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation, a gold standard that could allow the laboratory to expand calibration services to the broader scientific and medical community in Nigeria. Engr. ‘Oladapo also highlighted the need for program intervention to help secure this accreditation to help the laboratory commercialize the calibration services in the long term as part of the sustainability and ownership objective. The laboratory’s existence represents a significant stride toward localizing scientific and technical capacities that would otherwise be outsourced at great cost. But its future depends on more than just equipment and trained personnel. As Engr. ‘Oladapo and his team work tirelessly towards accreditation, the conversation shifts to broader systemic needs.
Government Support: A Crucial Pillar of Progress
A common theme throughout the discussion is the commendable role of government in driving national scientific advancement. The laboratory’s progress reflects the strong support from the Nigeria Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (NMODHIP), in partnership with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) Africa, and HJFMRI Nigeria. Engr. Oladapo praised the institutions for their unwavering commitment, noting that with sustained government involvement, the laboratory can continue to be a cornerstone of scientific development in Nigeria, offering critical services to hospitals, research centres, NGOs, and even industries beyond the medical field.
Looking Forward: A Shared Vision for Advancement
While lauding the trio of NMODHIP, WRAIR Africa and HJFMRI Nigeria for establishing and equipping the calibration laboratory, Engr. Oladapo expressed optimism that the facility will mature to the level of setting standards for metrological excellence in Nigeria and across Africa.
As the interview concluded, Engr. Oladapo offered a final reflection: “We’ve demonstrated that world-class expertise is attainable in Nigeria. Now, with continued government support, we can drive this vision even further.” This hopeful message highlights the remarkable potential of Nigeria’s scientific and technical talent.
Written by Paul Ashibel, HJFMRI Nigeria