Audit of Laboratory Diagnostic Practices for Intestinal Parasitic Infections in General Hospitals in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria

Accurate laboratory diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections is foundational to effective treatment and epidemiological monitoring, yet audits of diagnostic quality in Nigerian general hospital laboratories consistently reveal significant technical and procedural deficiencies. This study audits laboratory diagnostic practices for intestinal parasitic infections in general hospitals in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria. A cross-sectional facility audit was conducted across ten general hospitals in Bauchi, Ganjuwa, and Alkaleri Local Government Areas. Data were collected through direct observation of laboratory procedures, structured interviews with laboratory scientists and technicians, review of laboratory registers for specimen adequacy and processing methods, and assessment of quality control documentation. Performance domains assessed included stool sample collection instructions given to patients, concentration technique application, reagent availability, turnaround time, and proficiency in protozoan identification. Evidence from 2020 to 2024 identifies inadequate use of concentration techniques, reliance on direct smear alone, and poor quality control documentation as the most pervasive diagnostic failures in Nigerian general hospital parasitology laboratories. This study generates a laboratory performance scorecard and a ranked list of quality improvement priorities. Recommendations will be communicated to the Bauchi State Hospital Management Board and the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria. Keywords: laboratory audit, intestinal parasites, diagnostic practices, Bauchi State, quality assurance.