Scientist calls for computerized system to improve lab findings

A Medical Laboratory Scientist, Prof. Oduola Abiola, on Wednesday urged stakeholders to computerise laboratory findings in the nation’s health sector for accurate test results and findings.

Abiola, a Professor of Chemical Pathology and Neuroscience, College of Health Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo in Osun, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that both the Federal and state governments needed to upgrade health records into computerised system in their health institutions.

“It is important for medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria to go computer in order to improve the healthcare delivery and for proper work ethics in the laboratory department.

“In developed countries, after conducting tests, the medical scientists will enter their results to the computer where end users in different departments will have access to them to treat the patient(s),” Abiola said.

He said that the computerised system would help medical laboratory scientists and pathologists to render quality services to the patients and, as well, ease the bottlenecks associated with transferring information.

According to Abiola, “Medical laboratory scientists are people who carry out investigations of various body fluids and tissues with the aim of diagnosing diseases.

“They use different methods to carry out the test which are chemical, physical and microbiological to diagnose diseases.

“While pathologists can also do the latter part of medical laboratory findings, they cannot carry out the various tests that medical laboratory scientists do.

“They also advise clinicians on how to interpret laboratory results and how to make use of the results,”