USAID, Taraba Commission Remodelled PCR Laboratory

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Taraba State government have commissioned the remodelled Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Laboratory at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jalingo for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other priority disease testing and treatment monitoring.

In April 2023, a devastating fire destroyed the PCR laboratory, which provided life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment to Taraba State residents.

In response, USAID collaborated with FMC Jalingo’s management to convert the facility’s virology laboratory into a PCR laboratory, a specialised lab that tests HIV with high accuracy and precision.

Following the remodelling, USAID installed a Hologic Panther Plus – a specialised PCR equipment for HIV testing with high output and short turnaround time – in the laboratory, allowing testing to resume.

Dr. Ezekiel James, Deputy Director of the USAID/Nigeria HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Office, stated at the commissioning ceremony, “We hope that the remodelled laboratory will increase HIV testing and treatment for the people of Taraba and Adamawa.”

FMC Jalingo’s PCR laboratory, one of four USAID-supported and 12 PEPFAR-supported PCR laboratories in Nigeria, receives operational and technical support from USAID under the United States President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

The lab assesses HIV viral load in people receiving antiretroviral therapy and tests infants who have been exposed to HIV. As part of the Nigerian government’s efforts to strengthen Taraba State’s ability to support HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs, USAID improved healthcare workers’ technical capacity and the quality of service delivery in the molecular laboratory.

The remodelled laboratory resumed full operations in May 2024 and has tested over 9,333 viral load samples, putting HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy.