SML

RSUTH SATELLITE MOLECULAR LABORATORY

Welcome to the webpage of the RSUTH Satellite Molecular Laboratory, it is part of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Laboratory Network. Molecular Pathology services in our Hospital carry out tests on clinical samples to provide information about the DNA, RNA or proteins of interest. The Satellite Molecular Laboratory is one of the Molecular testing services in Rivers State University Teaching. The others are the GeneXpert Laboratory for molecular diagnosis of Tuberculosis and its Multidrug Resistant forms. The other molecular testing laboratory is the HIV Polymerase Chain Reaction laboratory which is supported presently by the Institute of Human Virology in Nigeria which carries out HIV Viral load, Early infant diagnosis of HIV exposed infants, Hepatitis B and C viral load on fully automated Cobas TaqMan 96 RT-PCR Systems and newly installed Hologic Panther Real-Time Transcription Mediated Amplification system.
The Satellite Molecular laboratory is the newest addition to these, it is a Biosafety level 2 laboratory, which was activated in May 2020 by Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to provide Molecular testing services for Covid19 and support efforts at case identification and containment for Covid 19 and other diseases of public health importance in Rivers State and the environs.

The Satellite Molecular laboratory can carry out 200 tests daily, with capacity for viral inactivation, automated and manual extraction of nucleic acid and amplification with open PCR systems. We also provide basic haematology and chemical pathology tests for patients with infectious diseases in this safe environment, outside the regular clinical laboratory.

Samples are transported safely to the RSUTHSML under cold chain from various collection point across the Rivers State. Our average turnaround time for Covid19 testing is 48 hours, the State Epidemiology team informs clients of their results promptly and the laboratory is also able to issue a report to individuals when it is requested. The Satellite Molecular Laboratory is part of the NCDC Laboratory Network and is authorized to provide testing services for people travelling outside the country from the State.

Our Partnerships
We have many organizations and individuals that have supported us and the Hospital community to carry out our functions during this pandemic – The Government of Rivers State, the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Total E&P Nigeria Ltd, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Ltd.

Our Team
Our Team is made up of 3 Consultant Pathologists – Dr. Stella Enyinnaya, Dr. Mienye Bobmanuel, Dr. Hannah Omunakwe; 5 Medical Laboratory Scientists – Mr Joseph Iragunima, Mr Faith Wondah, Mr Bright Biekara, Mr Praise Nelson, Mr. Chukwuka Kpaluku, and an Administrative officer – Miss Chisom Ikedionwu respectively.

Contacting the Laboratory
For General enquiries and enquiries about your report; reach us between 9am – 6pm on Monday to Friday, you can send an email to rsuthsml@rsuth.ng or call +2349053741800.