The federal government has sealed off one 1448 medical laboratories for practicing without meeting the required standards, the Registrar/CEO of Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Prof. Anthony Emeribe said.

He said that about 2622 laboratories were inspected across 33 states including the FCT.

Speaking during the council's inauguration of an Independent Advisory Committee (IAC), Emeribe explained that the labs scored below 50 percent after inspection while some of them did not have full time medical lab scientists, inadequate space, and use of inappropriate specimen.

He said poor laboratory facilities in the country are greatly responsible for Nigeria's over $500 million yearly loss to medical tourism abroad, adding that 60 % to 70% of efficient medical decisions by doctors are based on laboratory test results.