In a significant stride for Nigeria's healthcare sector, EL-LAB Medical Diagnostics and Research Centre, the nation's premier ISO-certified diagnostic facility, has reaffirmed its dedication to global quality benchmarks by commemorating World Quality Week 2025. The centre, which pioneered advanced medical testing in Lagos, is spotlighting its recent successful transition to the esteemed ISO 15189:2022 accreditation, the highest international standard for medical laboratories.
A Legacy of Quality and Patient Safety
Established 27 years ago in 1998, EL-LAB has been a cornerstone of the Nigerian health landscape, providing critical diagnostic services across Lagos State. In an official statement released to mark the 2025 Quality Week, themed "Quality: Think differently," the centre's Quality Assurance Manager, Mrs. Blessing Nwakobi, elucidated the fundamental role of quality in medical diagnostics.
"In healthcare, laboratories are the silent foundation of clinical decisions," Mrs. Nwakobi stated. "Most medical diagnoses rely on accurate laboratory results, thereby making Quality Assurance fundamental to patient safety and clinical excellence." She emphasized that the laboratory's work directly impacts the decisions made by doctors and the well-being of every patient.
The Framework of Excellence: Inside the ISO 15189:2022 Standard
The ISO 15189:2022 accreditation is not merely a certificate for EL-LAB; it represents a deeply ingrained culture of competence and continuous improvement. The centre's quality management system is strategically built on several core principles that guide its daily operations.
- Patient-Centred Services: Ensuring every procedure and interaction prioritizes the patient's needs and safety.
- Risk-Based Thinking: Proactively identifying and managing all activities that could pose a risk to patients throughout the entire testing process.
- Continuous Improvement: A relentless pursuit of better methods, technologies, and outcomes.
- Staff Engagement, Competence and Training: Investing in a highly skilled workforce that is empowered and knowledgeable.
This robust system integrates comprehensive mechanisms to guarantee the integrity of every single test result. This involves strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), vigorous Internal Quality Control (IQC) checks, and mandatory validation through External Quality Assessment (EQA) programs.
Thinking Differently About Quality in Healthcare
Aligning with the 2025 World Quality Week theme, EL-LAB's leadership is championing a paradigm shift in how the healthcare sector perceives quality. The company urged professionals to move beyond traditional approaches and embrace a new mindset.
"We believe thinking differently about quality begins with one powerful shift: seeing quality not as an act, but as an attitude," the leadership noted. "Quality is what we do when no one is watching and it shows in how we treat our patients, our colleagues, and our work. The ISO 15189:2022 accreditation is a reminder that quality is not a destination, but a journey of continuous improvement."
By achieving this accreditation, EL-LAB ensures that every diagnostic report it issues is not only accurate and reliable but also reproducible and comparable with global benchmarks. This commitment reinforces public trust and solidifies the laboratory's role as a leader in Nigeria's journey towards diagnostic excellence. The centre has extended an invitation to all partners, colleagues, and stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem to join them in this forward-thinking approach to quality.
