By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna

Appropriate sampling has been identified as a crucial factor towards obtaining good results from laboratory analysis in Nigeria.

Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, who disclosed this weekend, said the Agency had procured modern sampling kits for bulk and finished products.

Decrying the persistence of errors of sampling in causing grievous problems in results Orhii highlighted the importance of appropriate sampling as a representation of a whole lot in laboratory analyses.

Speaking through the Director of Laboratory Services, Mrs. Stella Denloye at the official launch/demonstration of the new sampling kits, the DG said the procurement was in line with international best practices in sampling to enhance trade and address sample quantity taken during inspection of regulated products.

He described the launch as another giant stride in enhancing trade and promoting international best practices by introducing modern sampling kits and methods to be used at the ports, factories and warehouses by ports inspection directorate, enforcement directorate, establishment inspection, directorate and laboratory services.

“This will reduce the sampling size of most regulated products especially bulk goods”, he said. Demonstrating the various methods, NAFDAC Chief Regulatory Officer, Mr. Fale Yavala, said the kits could be used to sample various products including oily, liquid, greasy and powdered products among others.

“The kits will take record of the temperature of the environment and the product. The atmospheric condition will be taken care of so that at the time of analysis you will be able to determine the temperature of the product. All external factors will be factored in, Yavala said.”

The Director of Ports Inspection Directorate, Mr. Momudu Segiru Momudu, explained that apart from reducing waste during sampling of products said sampling must be done exceptionally.

“It is okay for the environment because it provides the best way of sampling products in the country according to the temperature and environmental factors. He said sampling problems in the country has transverse more than 40 years.”