Mr Chinenye Nwekpe, former Chairman of Laboratory Scientist Association of Nigeria, Enugu State Chapter, has called on medical personnel to always conduct laboratory test before giving treatment to their patients.

Nwekpe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Thursday that this would also help in the process of drug prescription to the patients.

“Wrong drug choice causes complications, especially where the health expert is working on mere personal experience or hunch without a result from a laboratory test.

“Medical experts should use laboratory test to help their patients recover fast as well as check time and money wasting due to engaging in trial and error methods,’’ he added.

Nwekpe noted that the proper diagnoses of each illness had become important to check the rising spate of self medication in the country.

According to him, Nigerians should stop the blanket idea of treating all fever as either malaria or typhoid.

“That fever might be other forms of fevers, which the blanket approach of calling it malaria and typhoid, could complicate the issue of treatment.

“So, the best thing and wise thing to do is to ensure proper diagnoses through having a laboratory test.

“Even, the National Malaria policy had made it mandatory that there should be laboratory test before treatment. Our people should do the right thing, because a stitch in time saves nine,’’ he said.