Capacity Assessment for Molecular Diagnostic Services in State-Owned Laboratories in Taraba and Gombe States

Molecular diagnostic services are increasingly integral to infectious disease management, genomic surveillance, and precision medicine in Nigeria, yet the capacity of state-owned laboratories to deliver these services is poorly documented in many Northeast states. This study conducted a capacity assessment of molecular diagnostic services in government-owned reference and teaching laboratories in Taraba and Gombe States. A cross-sectional survey employed WHO Laboratory Assessment Tool (LAT) criteria, covering equipment availability, reagent supply chains, human resources, quality management systems, and test menu breadth. Eighteen laboratories were surveyed, and data were supplemented by on-site observations and interviews with laboratory directors. Only 33% of surveyed laboratories possessed functional PCR thermocyclers, and nucleic acid extraction instrumentation was available in 28%. Real-time PCR capacity was limited to two facilities in Gombe. Major barriers to service delivery included erratic power supply, absence of maintenance contracts for molecular equipment, and inadequate training for laboratory scientists in nucleic acid amplification techniques. Reagent stockouts lasting more than two weeks per quarter were reported in 67% of facilities. Targeted investment in infrastructure, cold chain, and human capacity is urgently needed to operationalize molecular diagnostics at state laboratory level in these Northeastern states. Keywords: molecular diagnostics capacity, laboratory assessment, Taraba State, Gombe State, WHO LAT.