Laboratory Biosafety Compliance and Molecular Hazard Management in Tertiary Hospitals in Kaduna State

Molecular biology laboratories in tertiary hospitals handle a range of biohazardous materials including infectious clinical specimens, recombinant DNA constructs, and carcinogenic chemical reagents, requiring robust biosafety frameworks to protect laboratory workers and prevent environmental contamination. This study assessed biosafety compliance and molecular hazard management in five tertiary hospital laboratories in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria. A structured observational checklist aligned with WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual (4th Edition, 2020) criteria was applied across the selected institutions. Facility infrastructure, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, waste disposal protocols, aerosol generation procedures, and chemical hazard management were evaluated. Interviews were conducted with 45 laboratory scientists and technicians. Compliance rates with physical containment requirements (BSL-2 standards) ranged from 51% to 74% across facilities, with the most critical gaps observed in aerosol-generating procedure protocols and sharps disposal. Chemical carcinogen handling for ethidium bromide and formaldehyde was inadequate in 60% of assessed laboratories. Only one facility had a documented biosafety officer with formal training. Emergency response plans for biological spills were absent in three of five facilities. These findings identify systemic biosafety deficits in Kaduna State molecular laboratories and make actionable recommendations for regulatory enforcement and mandatory biosafety training. Keywords: laboratory biosafety, molecular hazards, BSL-2, tertiary hospitals, Kaduna State.