A

TECHNICAL REPORT

ON

SIWES (STUDENT INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME)

AT INSTITUTE OF HUMAN VIROLOGY NIGERIA (IHVN) ABUJA, FCT.

PREPARED BY

EMELIE FAVOUR ONWUJEI (FOS 20/21/273633)

COURSE CODE : SLT 413

SUBMITTED TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY (BIOTECHNOLOGY), DELTA STATE

UNIVERSITY, ABRAKA, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA.

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT TO REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF BSC. DEGREE IN SCIENCE

LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY.

OCTOBER 2024.

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1.1 Introduction:

The Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is an initiative designed to provide practical industrial skills to
students, preparing them for real-world work scenarios post-graduation. During the 2023/2024 academic year, the training was
undertaken at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) in Abuja, a renowned institution focusing on public health,
research, and diagnostic services. The institution works on research studies in areas like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and cancer,
while supporting international programs funded by organizations like the CDC, WHO, and NIH.

1.2 INTRODUCTION TO THE CLINICAL LAB DEPARTMENT

This Department has a range of diagnostic, testing and analytic services performed. These services involve the analysis of
biological samples such as blood, urine, plasma, tissue or other body fluids, helping health care providers to detect diseases,
conditions, infections like Diabetes, kidney disease or cardiovascular issues, to assess treatment effectively.

This Department consist of the following units;

 Chemistry- Haematology unit (Biochemistry): Which I was posted to.

 Bio-repository unit
 Genomics
 Clinical pathology
 Molecular Diagnostic
 Biotech calibration
 Microbiology unit.

This department provides critical data that supports diagnosis, monitoring, treatment planning and public health management
ensuring effective patient care.

1.3 INTRODUCTION TO THE CHEMISTRY-HAEMATOLOGY LAB.

This is the unit I was posted to as a student, it is a component of the clinical lab department, specializing in different types of
diagnostic test and analysis related to bodily functions and disease.

DIFFERENT AREAS IN THE CHEMISTRY AND HAEMATOLOGY UNIT

The chemistry bench focuses on the analysis of the chemical composition of body fluids primarily plasma, urine, blood to assess
the function of the organs and detect diseases.

 Haematology Bench
 Clean area: For Documentation.
 Clean area: For sample reception and accession.


 Fig 1: Chemistry and hematology Lab IHVN

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What do we do on the chemistry bench?

 We analyze glucose levels, HBA1C Biomarkers( for Diabetes)

 Liver function Tests and kidney function; like Albumin, creatinine, urea.
 Hormonal analysis like Insulin.
 Biomarker analysis like Hscrp and NT-proBNP.
 Lipid profile Test :For testing cholesterol and triglyceride to assess cardiovascular risk.

We use the following equipments: Fujifilm Dri-chem, Selectra p proS, veda lab, Finecare wondfo.

What we do on the Haematology Bench?

Haematology bench focuses on evaluating the cellular components to blood such as white blood cells and platelets to diagnose
and monitor blood related conditions.

 We analyze full blood count, using the Sysmex Haematology Analyzer.

This department in summary conducts chemistry and haematology analysis for different research studies, one of the research
study focuses on using different biomarkers to detect Diabetes among HIV and Non HIV patients/ participants.

In collaboration with other Institutions like the International Research Centre of Excellence (IRCE). This unit is involved in
studies to investigate HIV/AIDS related problems.

The Department provides laboratory support for internships, excursions and corpers.

2.1 EQUIPMENTS/MATERIALS USED IN THE DEPARTMENT

 Centrifuge: A centrifuge is a device for separating particles from a solution according to their size, density, viscosity
of the medium and rotor speed. It uses rotary motion to separate material held in suspension from the medium it is
suspended in.
 Autoclave: used for the sterilization of hazardous waste.
 Deionizer: For deionizing water.
 Refrigerators and Freezers: For storing biological samples and Reagents.
 Sysmex Haematology Analyzer: For Analyzing complete blood count.
 Cyflow Counter: For CD4 analysis.
 Fujifilm Dri-chem machine: For chemistry analysis
 Selectra proS: For chemistry analysis
 Veda lab machine: For hormonal analysis
 Vortex mixer: For mixing samples.
 Rocker: For rocking samples.
 Pipettes, vaccutainers, cyrovials, cyrofoams, glass wares, sample cups, Gloves, C-fold towel, kim wipes, sanitizers,
70% ethanol, 10% hypochlorite, Lab coats, eye wares, nurse caps, bench pads, pipette tips, micropipettes.
 Biohazard Bags, bins and sharp box: For waste segregation.
 Decontaminants: 70% ethanol, 10% Hypochlorite, soaps and santizers.
 Registers, logs and Books: For documentation
 Tablets: For data entry.
 Markers, pens etc.

 Good laboratory practices as defined by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)as a set of
rules and criteria for quality systems concerned with organization process.

 It is the comprehensive approach that involves meticulous data handling, documentation, reports, records, security,
storage and adherence to standardized procedures.

 Some Quality Essentials in Good laboratory practice includes the following:

• Information management: This is critical to ensuring the integrity, accuracy and reliability of lab data, for research
purpose.

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 • Organization

• Personnel

• Equipment

• Purchasing and inventory.

• Research is essential for expanding knowledge, solving problems, and advancing society. It uses a systematic approach
to investigate questions, generate new information, and apply findings to real-world scenarios. The impacts of research
are wide-ranging, benefiting health, economy, policy-making, education, technology, and social progress.

• One of the researches I was involved in, is the Biomarker- Guided Evaluation of Glycated Testing modalities for
Dysglycemia among PLHIV (people living with HIV).

• Using biomarkers and parameters such as; HBA1c,OGTT(oral glucose tolerance test), Fructosamine, Albumin,
creatinine, urine samples.

• HBA1c and OGTT are biomarkers to detect blood sugar by testing how well the blood handles glucose and HBA1c
measures your average blood sugar for the past 2-3months.

• Liver and Kidney Function Test: Diseases like proteinuria and Jaundice are common effects from a dysfunctional
kidney and liver. Blockages in the bile duct or hemolysis can cause excess biliburin level and result to jaundice.
Biliburin is a by product of the breakdown of Red blood cells.

• Proteinuria occurs when abnormal amounts of protein especially albumin are present in urine, which is a dysfunction of
the kidney. Healthy kidneys typically filters waste but retains proteins in the bloodstream because they are heavy
molecules that can regularly pass through the glomecular filter.

Therefore, analysis are conducted to detect the liver and kidney function.

 Phlebotomy And Blood Collection Tubes

 This is a process of making a puncture in a vein usually in the arm, for the purpose of drawing blood, using vacutainers.
The procedure itself is known as venipuncture.

 There are three (3) major veins used during venipuncture (in the Antecubital Fossa) which are: Basilic vein, cephalic
vein and the median cubital vein which is the most preffered.

 The materials used by a phlebotomist to carryout venipuncture are as follows: A tourniquet, Alcohol swab, Needle
holder, Vacutainer tubes, puncture needle, cotton swabs, sharp box.

 Blood collection tubes comes in various colors and types, each containing different additives for specific tests. By
adhering to proper techniques in phlebotomy and using the appropriate blood collection tubes, accurate and reliable
results can be obtained for diagnostic purposes.

 For the purple (EDTA) tube; Additive: (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) an anticoagulant. It can be used for
Hematology tests like complete blood count (CBC).

 For the Red (plan) tube; Additive: None. It can be used for chemistry tests and serology.

 For the Green tube; Addictive: Heparin anticoagulant. It can be used for chemistry analysis.

 For the Gray tube; Addictive: sodium flouride. Anticoagulant. It can be used for glucose testing.

2.2 Achievements and Skills Gained:

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Over the course of the industrial training, numerous technical and social skills were developed. Key areas of learning included:

 Laboratory Practices and Procedures: Understanding good laboratory practices (GLP), safety protocols, and the use
of personal protective equipment (PPE) while handling hazardous materials.
 Phlebotomy and Sample Collection: Acquiring hands-on experience in venipuncture (blood drawing) and sample
handling using different blood collection tubes for various tests like glucose levels and HIV rapid tests.
 Equipment Proficiency: Familiarity with key laboratory instruments such as the Fujifilm Dri-Chem for biochemical
analysis, Sysmex Hematology Analyzer for full blood counts, and the CyFlow Counter for CD4 cell analysis.
 HIV Rapid Testing: Conducting HIV rapid tests using Determine, UniGold, and Stat-Pak test kits under a WHO-
endorsed algorithm. Additionally, there was experience in counseling patients before testing, ensuring patient privacy,
and adhering to ethical standards.
 Inventory Management: Learning the process of documenting samples, managing laboratory supplies, tracking
equipment calibration, and maintaining accurate logs for auditing purposes.
 Clinical Analysis and Biochemistry: Exposure to key diagnostic processes, such as chemistry tests for kidney and
liver function using the Selectra Pro S and the principles of photometry and spectrophotometry. This helped in
understanding biomarker analysis related to diabetes, kidney function (albumin, creatinine), and cardiovascular risk
(lipid profiles)

2.3 Challenges Faced:

 Lack of Payment: The absence of a stipend for IT students created financial difficulties, which led to moments of
discouragement.
 Handling Infectious Samples: Initially, working with infectious samples was intimidating, especially concerning HIV
and tuberculosis cases.
 Sample Delivery Delays: Delays in sample delivery, particularly from the Syndemic study, extended work hours
beyond regular schedules.

Despite these challenges, the training was immensely beneficial in building resilience and professionalism.

3.0 Conclusion:

The industrial training provided an invaluable opportunity to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical
application. The hands-on experience at IHVN, with its state-of-the-art equipment and professional supervision, was instrumental
in shaping future career prospects in medical laboratory science. Furthermore, the exposure to clinical research, especially in the
fields of HIV/AIDS and cancer, enhanced both technical and interpersonal skills.

4.0 Recommendations:

 Improved Financial Support: It is recommended that institutions and the government provide financial support to
students during industrial training to increase motivation.
 Enhanced Training Opportunities: More structured learning sessions could help students master laboratory skills more
effectively.
 Regular Supervisor Visits: Supervisors from educational institutions and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) should visit
students more frequently during their industrial attachment to ensure that learning objectives are bmet.

4.1 REFERENCES

 Wikipedia; About IHVN, National open university; About SIWES, Mrs Teclaire Ngo-Ndomb; senior program manager,
Mrs Felicia; program officer, Mr Adeleke; Biotech Engineer, Dr Jumari; Principal Research Investigator.