Assessment of compliance with quality laboratory standards in medical laboratories within the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

BackgroundIn resource-limited settings, compliance with laboratory standards remains a significant challenge, resulting in delays and inaccurate results that can compromise emergency responses, clinical decision-making, and patient outcomes. In Ghana, medical laboratories are a vital component of the health system, but there has been limited evidence on how well they meet international quality standards. This study assessed compliance with laboratory standards by medical laboratories in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional survey of forty-three (43) laboratory facilities operating within healthcare facilities and private standalone laboratory facilities in the Kumasi metropolis was conducted from January to December 2021. The WHO SLIPTA checklist, which specifies the requirements for the quality and competency of laboratories, was used to assess compliance with laboratory standards. Descriptive analysis and the Kruskal-Wallis test were conducted to examine the differences in overall compliance scores across the types of health facilities. ResultsThe median compliance score was 61(interquartile range 53-66), the minimum score was 49, and the maximum score was 104. Tertiary-level facility laboratories performed better (93) compared with secondary (66) and primary (64.8) level facilities. Similarly, faith-based facilities (CHAG) performed better (80.8) than private hospitals (60.1) and private standalone laboratories (54.3). There were significant differences in the overall median compliance score (p=0.00) among the four (4) categories of health facilities. ConclusionThe degree of compliance with quality laboratory standards was low across all facility types. Medical laboratories not meeting basic quality standards could significantly impact the accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of test results.