Abstract
Objectives: Laboratory services are poorly run in many low-income countries, severely constraining their input to patient care and disease surveillance. A pilot study on effectiveness of e-Laboratory services with modern packages that will carry out a range of individual component of tests facilitating delivery of results to the clinic through internet system was conducted in district and private hospital laboratories in a typical metropolitan city in eastern part of Nigeria, West Africa.Methods: Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to respondents (n=26) to determine the range of tests performed by the laboratories and the clinical demands from both district and private hospitals. Data were documented, analysed and presented in tabular and graphical forms.Results: Revealed that detection of malaria parasite accounted for the highest proportion of baseline tests performed given as 15.6% as compared to 6.3% reported for VDRL (venereal disease research laboratory) test and serum electrolytes respectively accounting for the least proportion. Fertility test given as 29.4% accounted for the highest proportion of special tests as compared to 5.9% reported for CD4 cell count and human papilloma virus respectively accounting for the least. Consequently, a significant number of clinical demands were not met by the existing laboratories impacting negatively on the outcome of drug treatment.Conclusion: In conclusion, the outcome of present study lends credence to the fact that e-laboratory systems may be considered better diagnostic approach in ensuring effective drug therapy of disease conditions.
Highlights
It is self-evident that technology innovation and genetic advances in science are linked automatically to improvements in health care
Microscopy for detection of malaria parasite accounted for the highest proportion of baseline tests performed given as 15.6% as compared to 6.3% reported for VDRL and serum electrolytes respectively which accounted for the least proportion
Information given by the respondents revealed that they relied more on their clinical judgment than on the laboratory results owing to late arrival of results to the clinic and inefficient laboratory service to meet up with their clinical demands
Summary
It is self-evident that technology innovation and genetic advances in science are linked automatically to improvements in health care. These innovations can take the form of molecular biology techniques giving rise to new vaccines, diagnostics and bioinformatics; simplifying information flow, promoting the concept of e-health and quality processes that affect how hospitals are managed. Laboratory services are integral component of health systems, reliable and accurate results are the only panacea for proper and effective management and treatment of these diseases. The purpose of this study, was to get baseline information for the establishment of efficient laboratory package that can provide a range of integrated tests that can adequately service both local www.ssjournals.com
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