THE Federal Government has on Thursday inaugurated In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD), the first public health control laboratory in the country.

According to the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan at the inauguration, the IVD control laboratory at the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Yaba, would strengthen the regulatory function of the council, with respect to the verification, validation, listing and registration of in-vitro laboratory diagnostics in the country.

He however advised manufacturers, producers and importers of reagents and chemicals to comply with the law, by submitting their products to the IVD laboratory for testing, analysis and certification, adding that the concept is aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on health care.

He reiterated government’s zero tolerance to substandard practices, adding that health laboratories played a critical role and so needed high quality personnel, equipment, reagents and chemicals to produce reliable result.