Conference Abstract | Volume 9, Abstract 065 (ConfProc7) | Published: 09 Jul 2026
Victor Kofi Owusu1,&, Michael Avarade1, Samuel Kofi Doe2, Emma Edinam Kploanyi3, Gifty Boateng4, Bernard Nkrumah3, George Khumalo Kuma5, Ebenezer Kofi Mensah6
1Public Health Laboratory, Ghana Health Service, Sunyani, Ghana, 2St. John of God Hospital, Duayaw Nkwanta, Ghana, 3African Field Epidemiology Network, Accra, Ghana, 4National Public Health and Reference Laboratory, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana, 5Ghana Health Service, Bono Regional Health Directorate, Sunyani, Ghana, 6Sekondi Zonal Public Health Laboratory, Sekondi, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Victor Kofi Owusu, Public Health Laboratory, Sunyani, Ghana, Email: owusuvictor2014@gmail.com
Received: 19 Aug 2025, Accepted: 28 Oct 2025, Published: 09 Jul 2026
Domain: Laboratory Systems Strengthening
Keywords: Standard Operating Procedure, Laboratory, First-Expiry-First-Out, Inventory Management
©Victor Kofi Owusu et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Victor Kofi Owusu et al. Establishment of laboratory inventory management system at Sunyani Public Health Laboratory, 2025. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfProc7):065. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO7-0065
Laboratory services are essential in clinical and public health decision-making. Effective laboratory inventory management system (IMS) is important for ensuring uninterrupted diagnostic services, minimize wastage and maintain compliance with quality standards. Inadequate inventory control can lead to stockouts, overstocking and expiration of essential supplies, ultimately affecting laboratory performance. Sunyani Public Health Laboratory (SPHL) has no structured inventory control management system. We aimed to establish a structured IMS at SPHL to improve efficiency, accountability and sustainability.
We conducted a cross-sectional study to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for laboratory inventory management, outlining clear processes for requisition, receipt, storage, issuance, and documentation of laboratory commodities. The SOP incorporated best practices, including First-Expiry-First-Out (FEFO) principles and routine stock reconciliation. Training sessions were conducted for laboratory personnel to ensure proper understanding and application of the SOP. Practical demonstrations and hands-on exercises were used to reinforce skills in inventory processes. Implementation was monitored to assess adherence and identify areas for improvement. Data was entered and analysed using Microsoft Excel 2016 (16.0). We presented our results in graphs.
We established an IMS at the SPHL through the development, validation, and implementation of SOP on inventory management and other supporting templates. A total of three staff were trained on requisition, stock handling, documentation, storage, and reconciliation, with knowledge assessments showing significant improvement in test scores (Mean Pre-test score: 63.3 ±3.3, Mean Post-test score 93.3 ± 3.3). Practical sessions and evaluations demonstrated high staff satisfaction and confidence in applying the SOP in daily operations.
We developed a standardized inventory management SOP, complemented by staff training that significantly improved knowledge and skills. Stakeholder engagement and positive staff feedback ensured contextual relevance and readiness for implementation. The intervention strengthens the laboratory’s capacity to reduce stock-outs and wastage, enhancing efficiency, accountability, and sustainability in service delivery.
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