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Lessons from the Field
Lessons learnt from laboratory capacity building in supporting integrated disease serosurveillance using a multiplex bead assay in Nigeria
Submitted: 07 May 2025 | Published: 09 December 2025
About the author(s)
Ado G. Abubakar, Department of Laboratory, APIN Public Health Initiatives, Abuja, Nigeria; and Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Abuja, NigeriaMary Okoli, Department of Laboratory, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
Oluwaseun O. Akinmulero, Department of Laboratory, APIN Public Health Initiatives, Abuja, Nigeria; and Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Andrew Thomas, Department of Laboratory, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Temitope A. Olaleye, Department of Laboratory, APIN Public Health Initiatives, Abuja, Nigeria; and Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Simon Gabo, Department of Laboratory, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
Samuel S. Awala, Department of Laboratory, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Felicia Nwatu, Department of Laboratory, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Blessing Ugboaja, Department of Laboratory, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Ifeanyi Odoh, Department of Laboratory, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Joseph Dattijo, Department of Laboratory, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Loveth Akayi, Department of Laboratory, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Mudiaga Esiekpe, Department of Laboratory, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Ayuba Dawurung, Department of Laboratory, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Olusola A. Akanbi, Department of Laboratory, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
Felix Villeng, Department of Laboratory, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
Item I. Item, Department of Laboratory, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
Olumide Okunoye, Division of Global HIV and TB, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
William Nwachukwu, Department of Laboratory, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
James Avong, Department of Laboratory, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
Olajumoke Babatunde, Department of Laboratory, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
Nishanth Parameswaran, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Stacie Greby, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Matthias Alagi, Division of Global HIV and TB, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
Mahesh Swaminathan, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Nwando Mba, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
Ernest Yufenyuy, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Melissa Coughlin, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Diana Martin, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
McPaul Okoye, Division of Global HIV and TB, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
Nnaemeka C. Iriemenam, Division of Global HIV and TB, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
Chikwe Ihekweazu, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
Abstract
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.
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