Laboratory Services & Diagnostics form the scientific foundation of MODHIP’s health delivery system. Led by the Defence Reference Laboratory (DRL), Abuja, and supported by a nationwide network of military hospitals, TB reference laboratories, and GeneXpert platforms, MODHIP provides accurate, timely, and globally standardized diagnostic services.

This network supports HIV, TB, malaria, emerging infections, maternal and child health, and outbreak response, strengthening both Nigeria’s military health system and national public health infrastructure.

MODHIP operates a tiered national laboratory network, including:

• Defence Reference Laboratory (DRL), Abuja – National military reference hub
• TB Modular Reference Laboratory – National TB diagnostics and resistance testing
• Military Hospital Laboratories Nationwide – Routine and surveillance diagnostics
• GeneXpert Network – Decentralized molecular TB testing across the country
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MODHIP laboratories operate under strict biosafety and biosecurity protocols, including:

• Certified biosafety cabinets

• High-level infection prevention & control systems

• Cold-chain sample transport networks

• Secure biospecimen repositories

• Chain-of-custody sample tracking

These safeguards protect patients, scientists, and communities during routine testing and outbreak response.

MODHIP maintains a strong national quality assurance and EQA framework, ensuring all supported laboratories meet international diagnostic standards.

Key QA activities include:

• Routine internal quality control checks

• National external quality assessment programs

• Proficiency testing schemes

• Laboratory accreditation support

• Continuous performance improvement audits

This system guarantees accuracy, reliability, and clinical confidence in every diagnostic result produced.

MODHIP supports:

• Diagnostic device evaluation and validation

• Introduction of next-generation molecular platforms

• Integration of laboratory data into national surveillance systems

• Digital laboratory reporting and dashboards

This ensures Nigeria’s Defence Health diagnostics remain future-ready and globally compatible.

This pillar works closely with MODHIP’s Training division to deliver:

• Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP)

• Biosafety & Biorisk Management

• Infection Prevention & Control

• Malaria microscopy supervision

• Injection safety

• Quality management systems training

MODHIP’s laboratory ecosystem is strengthened through collaboration with:

• Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH)
• Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
• PEPFAR
• Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)
• USAMRD-A/N
• NTBLCP (National TB & Leprosy Control Programme)
• Partner universities and research institutions

• Military-grade biosecurity and precision
• Nationwide diagnostic coverage
• Integrated QA and EQA systems
• End-to-end sample management
• Rapid outbreak-response capability
• Strong linkage between diagnostics, care, and research
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Because of MODHIP’s diagnostic infrastructure:

• Military hospitals achieve higher treatment accuracy

• HIV viral suppression has significantly improved

• TB detection among HIV-positive clients has increased

• Outbreaks are identified faster

• Research capacity has expanded nationwide

• Thousands of samples are processed monthly

Diagnostics remain the foundation of MODHIP’s health impact.