Central laboratory and point-of-care cardiac marker testing capacity of tertiary hospitals in Nigeria - a multicenter...

Area of Science:

• Clinical Diagnostics
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are leading causes of illness and death globally.
• Cardiac marker testing is crucial for diagnosing Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS).
• Tertiary hospitals, particularly teaching hospitals, are expected to provide advanced cardiac diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the availability and functionality of central laboratory and point-of-care cardiac marker testing services.
• To determine the cardiac marker testing capacity in Nigerian tertiary hospitals.
• To identify barriers to establishing comprehensive cardiac marker testing services.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted among government-owned tertiary hospitals in Nigeria.
• Data were collected using semi-structured, self-administered questionnaires.
• Statistical analysis was performed using Stata version 13.

Main Results:

• Out of 34 participating hospitals, only 19 (55.88%) possessed functional cardiac marker testing facilities (point-of-care, central laboratory, or both).
• The primary reason for lacking facilities was the inability to fund equipment procurement.
• In hospitals with testing capabilities, central laboratories predominantly housed the testing devices.

Conclusions:

• The capacity for cardiac marker testing in Nigerian tertiary hospitals is currently inadequate for both point-of-care and central laboratory services.
• Significant improvements are required to enhance diagnostic capabilities for patients requiring cardiac marker evaluation.
• Addressing funding gaps for equipment is essential to expand testing services.