The TB Modular Laboratory, situated within the Defence Reference Laboratory (DRL) in Abuja, is a national-level diagnostic hub dedicated to addressing the growing threat of tuberculosis (TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) within the Nigerian military health system.

Established through the strategic partnership between the Nigerian Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (MODHIP) and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research – Africa (WRAIR-Africa), the lab is the first of its kind in Nigeria’s military healthcare landscape — built to support rapid TB diagnosis, increase case detection among HIV-positive clients, and provide reference-level diagnostics to complement the National TB Control Programme (NTBLCP).

The TB Modular Lab was created in response to:

• Persistently low TB case detection rates in HIV-positive patients at military health facilities

• The over-reliance on outdated AFB microscopy methods with limited sensitivity

• National gaps in MDR-TB testing and patient overload at civilian reference labs

• The urgent call from NTBLCP for the Nigerian military to develop its own TB reference lab

Our goal is to enhance military healthcare capacity while contributing meaningfully to national and global TB control efforts — especially in the era of drug-resistant strains.

✅ 1. Advanced TB Diagnostics

• Houses 15 GeneXpert MTB/RIF machines deployed across high-volume MODHIP-supported military hospitals

• Recently equipped with 2 TB-LAMP (Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification) platforms for additional rapid diagnosis

• Diagnoses drug-resistant TB (Rifampicin resistance) and prioritizes timely linkage to treatment

✅ 2. MDR-TB Surveillance & Support

• Identifies and flags suspected MDR-TB clients

• Bridges the gap caused by overburdened national MDR TB treatment centers

• Provides military health services with a self-sustaining diagnostic arm for TB management

✅ 3. HIV-TB Co-Infection Management

• Enhances diagnosis among HIV-positive clients, a population especially vulnerable to TB

• Supports early detection and integrated care for improved treatment outcomes and reduced transmission

✅ 4. National Collaboration & Integration

• Works in tandem with NTBLCP, NCDC, and other national bodies to align TB diagnostic standards and reporting

• Provides reference-level support to surrounding civilian and military facilities

Constructed in 2018 by South African firm Air Filter Maintenance Services (AFMS), and further optimized in 2019 and 2023 based on recommendations from WRAIR engineers, the TB Modular Laboratory features:

• Biosafety Level 2+ design for high-risk TB testing

• Negative pressure airflow systems to protect lab personnel

• WHO-compliant equipment for MDR-TB diagnosis

• Real-time result transmission capability to central database systems

• Proximity integration with the DRL’s molecular and serology departments for seamless sample flow

In 2023, the lab was officially commissioned and handed over to the Nigerian government by the Commander of WRAIR, affirming the enduring U.S.-Nigeria collaboration in health security.

The TB Modular Lab:

• Significantly improves turnaround time for TB and MDR-TB results across military sites

• Reduces reliance on overstretched civilian labs, helping to decongest NTBLCP facilities

• Supports MODHIP in meeting COP (Country Operational Plan) targets for TB treatment among HIV-positive patients

• Positions Nigeria’s military as a critical player in the national fight against TB

While the TB Modular Lab is primarily diagnostic, it complements MODHIP’s clinical training programs by offering:

• Practical training in GeneXpert and TB-LAMP technologies

• Modules on biosafety and TB infection control

• Field research opportunities in HIV-TB co-infection trends

Military clinicians and lab technicians participating in MODHIP-supported capacity building benefit from exposure to real-time TB diagnostics — ensuring more informed decision-making and improved care delivery across the board.

The TB Modular Laboratory operates with oversight and support from:

• Walter Reed Army Institute of Research – Africa (WRAIR-Africa)

• PEPFAR

• Nigerian Ministry of Defence

• National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP)

• NCDC

• AFMS (South Africa)

With growing resistance to TB medications and the complexity of co-infection with HIV, the lab stands as a proactive force in epidemic preparedness. Plans are underway to:

• Expand testing to cover XDR-TB

• Integrate digital TB surveillance dashboards for the military

• Serve as a national training center for GeneXpert diagnostics