A growing number of diagnostic laboratories in Nigeria are transitioning from manual record-keeping to digital systems, following the adoption of Slabman, a software platform designed to streamline laboratory operations.

The software, developed by a local team, allows medical laboratories to digitise processes such as patient registration, test tracking, and result delivery. According to its developers, the aim is to reduce administrative errors and delays that have long plagued diagnostic centres in the country.

“People underestimate how much time is wasted in labs,” said Micheal Uche, product lead at Slabman. “Not because the staff aren’t competent, but because the systems they’re working with are outdated.”

Slabman was created in response to persistent operational challenges in diagnostic centres, including misplaced reports and delayed results. Uche said the platform helps mitigate these issues by reducing the reliance on manual documentation.

“I remember when patients had to wait two, sometimes three days, just to get basic test results,” he said. “You’d be calling the lab, chasing down files, and praying someone didn’t misplace the report. It was exhausting.”

Since the platform’s introduction, several laboratories in Nigeria have adopted the software, which now helps to generate and transmit patient results more efficiently. Medical staff and administrators can also track workflow progress digitally, leading to what Uche described as greater operational transparency.

“Doctors get results faster. Patients stop waiting endlessly. Lab managers can see what’s going on without chasing down reports,” he said. “That clarity makes a big difference, especially in a system where delays can literally cost lives.”

While the platform is gaining traction, Uche noted that the developers continue to refine it based on user feedback. “Every lab teaches us something new. Our job is to listen and adapt. That’s how we grow.”

Although still in its expansion phase, Slabman is currently in use in several private laboratories and is positioning itself as a tool for improving diagnostic workflows in Nigeria’s healthcare system.