Lessons learnt from laboratory capacity building in supporting integrated disease serosurveillance using a multiplex bead assay in Nigeria

African Journal of Laboratory Medicine

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Lessons learnt from laboratory capacity building in supporting integrated disease serosurveillance using a multiplex bead assay in Nigeria
 
Creator Abubakar, Ado G. Okoli, Mary Akinmulero, Oluwaseun O. Thomas, Andrew Olaleye, Temitope A. Gabo, Simon Awala, Samuel S. Nwatu, Felicia Ugboaja, Blessing Odoh, Ifeanyi Dattijo, Joseph Akayi, Loveth Esiekpe, Mudiaga Dawurung, Ayuba Akanbi, Olusola A. Villeng, Felix Item, Item I. Okunoye, Olumide Nwachukwu, William Avong, James Babatunde, Olajumoke Parameswaran, Nishanth Greby, Stacie Alagi, Matthias Swaminathan, Mahesh Mba, Nwando Yufenyuy, Ernest Coughlin, Melissa Martin, Diana Okoye, McPaul Iriemenam, Nnaemeka C. Ihekweazu, Chikwe
 
Subject Epidemiology multi-disease; serosurveillance; multiplex bead assay; capacity building; Nigeria
Description Background: Serologic assays can monitor population exposure to pathogens and immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases; the multiplex bead assay (MBA) can test for multiple analytes simultaneously.Intervention: Specimens collected during the Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) were used to estimate the seroprevalence of diseases of public health importance, and specimens collected from special studies were used to estimate the seroprevalence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to improve the surveillance programmes. In 2019, Luminex MAGPIX® instruments were installed at the MBA laboratory in the National Reference Laboratory, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in Abuja, Nigeria. Dried blood spot specimens from the NAIIS, stored with consent for future testing, were prioritised for testing. Between 2019 and 2022, the National Reference Laboratory MBA laboratory conducted antibody and antigen assays for an estimated 130 000 NAIIS participants, completed two rounds of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) serosurveys, and validated SARS-CoV-2 serological assays for use in Nigeria.Lessons learnt: The data generated by the MBA laboratory supported funding requests for childhood immunisation and the application of the National Malaria Elimination Programme Global Fund. The MBA results strengthened the National HIV Serial Rapid Testing Algorithm. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the laboratory validated a SARS-CoV-2 MBA, which measured antibodies against three antigens. This multi-target assay was used to complete two additional rounds of the COVID-19 household serosurvey in Nigeria.Recommendations: This strategy of investing in MBA laboratory capacity building could serve as a model for other nations seeking to fortify their public health infrastructure.What this study adds: Nigeria’s integrated disease surveillance capability was boosted through MBA technology.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor 2.APIN Public Health Initiatives, Plot 1551 APO Resettlement, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
Date 2025-12-09
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Surveillence
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/ajlm.v14i1.2861
 
Source African Journal of Laboratory Medicine; Vol 14, No 1 (2025); 6 pages 2225-2010 2225-2002
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/2861/3360 https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/2861/3361 https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/2861/3362 https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/2861/3363
 
Coverage Nigeria — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2025 Abubakar AG, Okoli M, Akinmulero OO, et al. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ADVERTISEMENT