COMBATING ADULTERATED LABORATORY REAGENTS THROUGH HEALTHCARE COOPERATIVES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigates the prevalence and effect of adulterated laboratory reagents in Nigeria’s healthcare system. Healthcare Cooperatives is a viable solution for ensuring the availability of high quality reagents. The research objectives are: to assess the extent of adulteration in laboratory reagents, examine the effectiveness of Healthcare Cooperatives in procurement and distribution. Data from 192 observations were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one sample t-tests. The mean prevalence score of adulterated reagents was 21.1094, with a standard deviation of 4.26645, highlighting variability in prevalence levels across healthcare facilities. Significant t-tests results (t = 68.558, p = 0.000) provided strong evidence against the null hypothesis, indicating widespread adulteration and its adverse effects on diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. Healthcare cooperatives demonstrated substantial effectiveness in ensuring access to high quality laboratory reagents, reflected in a mean effectiveness score of 21.2240 (t = 72.725, p = 0.000). These findings underscore the pivotal role of cooperatives in mitigating the impact of adulterated reagents on healthcare delivery. Moreover, training and quality control initiatives by Healthcare Cooperatives were found to significantly enhance laboratory standards, with a mean effectiveness score of 21.4219 (t = 75.957, p = 0.000). This highlights the importance of continuous professional development and stringent quality assurance practices in maintaining reliable laboratory services. Recommendations include strengthening regulatory oversight to curb the circulation of adulterated reagents, expanding support for Healthcare Cooperatives nationwide, to sustain improvements in laboratory standards. Addressing these aspects is crucial for advancing diagnostic accuracy and patient care quality within Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.