Post by Adeleke Olaoluwa

𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐌𝐋𝐒) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 (𝐒𝐋𝐓) 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 For over two decades, there has been persistent confusion among students, employers, policymakers, and even some professionals about the clear distinction between Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) and Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) in Nigeria. Sadly, this misunderstanding persists even today. This confusion has been compounded by misinformation, sometimes emanating from institutions that should know better, such as the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) and its affiliate professional body, the Association of Science Laboratory Technologists of Nigeria (ASLTON). Their public statements and actions have, over time, blurred professional boundaries, misled stakeholders, and left many SLT graduates frustrated about their true professional identity and limits. It has therefore become necessary to clearly and without bias restate the genuine distinctions between the two professions in the interest of truth, public safety, and professional integrity. MLS is a clinical health profession regulated by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) under the Federal Ministry of Health, and SLT is a general science and industrial field regulated by the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation. MLS focuses on the analysis of human and animal samples for diagnosis, treatment, and research, with practitioners licensed as Medical Laboratory Scientists. In contrast, SLT deals with industrial, research, and academic laboratories, producing Technologists not health professionals. Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) is a specialised medical science discipline studied exclusively in universities accredited by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). It is domiciled within the Faculty of Health Sciences or Medical Laboratory Sciences under the College of Medicine forming a vital component of the clinical training structure alongside Medical counterparts. Medical Laboratory Scientists undergo a rigorous five-year+ academic programme leading to the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) degree. By contrast, Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) is an applied science discipline taught in Polytechnics under the School of Science, or in some universities under the Faculty of Biological or Natural Sciences. Polytechnic graduates are awarded ND/HND in SLT and are designated Laboratory Technicians or Technologists, while university graduates obtain a B.Tech. in SLT. https://lnkd.in/d5_nWxWx © 𝕬𝖉é𝖑é𝖐è 𝕺. Ọ𝖑á𝖔𝖑ú𝖜𝖆 (𝕺𝖑úọ𝖒ọ) 19/10/2025