The Lagos State Government has recorded significant progress in blood safety standards, as 72 per cent of blood banks assessed in the 2026 External Quality Assessment (EQA) programme scored above the 80th percentile.
This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, during the presentation of proficiency testing results to successful public and private facilities at the agency’s headquarters in Gbagada.
Dr. Osikomaiya described the outcome as a marked improvement compared to the 2025 exercise, attributing the progress to sustained training, stricter regulatory enforcement, and enhanced collaboration across the health sector.
She explained that the EQA programme was introduced to establish measurable indicators for evaluating the competence of medical laboratory scientists and the operational standards of blood banks, noting that it has now become a key benchmark for performance assessment in the state.
According to her, over 170 facilities participated in the 2026 exercise, with a high rate of compliance in the timely submission of results by both public and private operators.
The LSBTS boss said targeted interventions introduced after gaps identified in the 2025 cycle—including practical training sessions, structured workshops, and continuous medical education—played a crucial role in improving technical capacity and clinical decision-making.
While commending the improved performance, Dr. Osikomaiya warned that underperforming facilities would face stricter regulatory actions.
These include mandatory paid retraining, repeat assessments, and possible closure for centres that fail to meet minimum operational standards.
She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to patient safety, stressing that no facility would be allowed to operate as a blood bank in 2026 without proper registration and demonstrated competence.
Dr. Osikomaiya also praised private sector operators for embracing reforms and acknowledged the support of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for funding the programme, which enabled facilities to participate at no cost.
In his remarks, the Quality Manager of LSBTS, Mr. Taiwo Oloko, described the 2026 exercise as highly successful, noting that all participating facilities returned their results within the stipulated timeframe.
He added that the assessment went beyond technical accuracy to evaluate reagent usage, clinical decision-making, blood group selection, and documentation practices such as proper patient identification and reporting.
Representatives of participating institutions also attributed their improved performance to consistent training and institutional support.
A spokesperson for the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Blood Bank said lessons from the previous year’s performance helped strengthen teamwork and internal processes.
Similarly, a Medical Laboratory Scientist at Options Medical Diagnostics, Mrs. Olutope Mofikoya, described the EQA programme as an essential tool for continuous quality improvement and alignment with global best practices.
The 2026 EQA results are seen as a major step in ensuring safer blood transfusion services and improving overall healthcare delivery in Lagos State.