A TECHNICAL

REPORT

ON

STUDENT INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME

(SIWES)

UNDERTAKEN

AT

EVERGREEN MEDICAL CENTER, 4 OTONG ROAD, IKOT EKPENE

AKWA IBOM STATE

BY

SUNDAY BLESSING OKOKON

AK20/BGS/MCB/050

DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY

FACULTY OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

AKWA IBOM STATE UNIVERSITY,IKOT AKPADEN

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF B.sc

IN MICROBIOLOGY

FEBUARY, 2024

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 DEDICATION

This report is dedicated to the Almighty God and my beloved father Mr. Okokon Sunday for his
supports and unconditional love.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to express my profound gratitude to God almighty for his guidance, grace and sustenance
throughout my industrial training programme; Glory be to Him alone.

I am grateful to my Head of Department; Dr Maria Bassey,I thank my SIWES Coordinator Dr.

Ukponobong Antia for his support.

A big thanks to my Industrial Based Supervisors; Mr. Ephraim and other staff at the evergreen
medical center who help to impact knowledge to me.

Lastly, special thanks to my father Mr. Sunday Okokon Okon, Sibling, friends, colleague’s and
well-wishers for their unrelenting support and encouragement throughout my SIWES
programmes.

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TABLE OF CONTENT

1. Dedication

2. Acknowledgement

3. Chapter One

A. Introduction to SIWES

B. Overview of SIWES

C. Aim of SIWES program

D. Objectives of SIWES

4. Chapter Two

A. Brief history of the organization

B. Organogram of the organization

C. Objectives of the organization

5. Chapter Three: Section of engagement during SIWES

6. Chapter Four

A. Experience gained

B. Challenges encountered

C. Conclusion

D. Recommendations

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION TO SIWES

The Student Industrial Work Experience scheme (SIWES), also known as Industrial Training is a
compulsory skill training programme designed to expose and prepare students of Nigeria
Universities, Polytechnics, college of Education, College of Agriculture and College of
Technology, for the industrial work situation they are likely to meet after graduation.

SIWES introduction, initiation and design was done by the Industrial Training Fund in 1993 to
acquaint students with the skills of handling employer’s equipment and machinery.

The Industrial Training Fund solely funded the scheme during its formative years. However, due
to financial constraints, the fund withdrew the scheme in 1978.

OVERVIEW OF SIWES

SIWES was founded in 1973 by ITF (Industrial Training Funds) to address the problem of
tertiary institution graduates' lack of appropriate skills for employment in Nigerian industries.
The Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) was founded to be a skill training
programme to help expose and prepare students of universities, Polytechnics and colleges of
education for the industrial work situation to be met after graduation.

This system facilitates the transfer from the classroom to the workplace and aids in the
application of knowledge. The program allows students to become acquainted with and exposed
to the experience required in handling and operating equipment and machinery that are typically
not available at their schools.

Prior to the establishment of this scheme, there was a rising concern and trend among
industrialists that graduates from higher education institutions lacked appropriate practical
experience for employment. Students who entered Nigerian universities to study science and
technology were not previously trained in the practical aspects of their chosen fields. As a result
of their lack of work experience, they had difficulty finding work.

As a result, employers believed that theoretical education in higher education was unresponsive
to the needs of labor employers. Thousands of Nigerians faced this difficulty till 1973. The

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fund's main motivation for establishing and designing the scheme in 1973/74 was launched
against this context.

The ITF (Industrial Training Fund) organization decided to aid all interested Nigerian students
and created the SIWES program. The federal government officially approved and presented it in
1974. During its early years, the scheme was entirely supported by the ITF, but as the financial
commitment became too much for the fund, it withdrew in 1978. The National Universities
Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) were given control
of the scheme by the federal government in 1979. The federal government handed over
supervision and implementation of the scheme to ITF in November 1984. It was taken over by
the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in July 1985, with the federal government bearing entire
responsibility for funding.

AIM

It is aimed at exposing students to machines and equipment, professional work methods and
ways of safeguarding the work areas and workers in industries, offices, laboratories, hospitals
and other organizations.

OBJECTIVES OF SIWES

1. To provide an avenue for students in institutions of higher learning to acquire industrial skills
and experience in their course of study.

2. To prepare students for working situation they are likely to meet after graduation.

3. To expose students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment’s and machinery
that may not be available in their institutions.

4. To provide students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge in real work situation
thereby bridging the gap between theory and practice.

5. To make transition from school to the world of work easier and enhance students contacts to
inter-job placement.

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 CHAPTER TWO

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ORGANISATION

Evergreen medical center is a health facility registered by CAC Abuja with a license from Akwa
Ibom state ministry of health.

It was created on 1988 by Dr. David Etokessien. It consists of the laboratory department,
pathological department, consulting department, surgical department and out patient department.

It is located at 4 otong road, Ikot ekpene, Akwa Ibom state.

It is aimed at caregiving, counselling and surgical cases

ORGANOGRAM OF THE ORGANIZATION

Medical Director

Doctor

Receptionist

Nurse

Other Staff IT students

Security

Cleaner

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THE LABORATORY

Definition of Medical Laboratory

The medical laboratory can be defined as a place where samples are collected and analyzed or
tested in order to get results, which are used, for medical diagnosis purposes.

The medical laboratory is an important factor in health care systems as it is in solely responsible
for carrying out necessary tests and conducting researches and developments while working hand
in hand with the pharmaceutical unit.

Importance of these Medical Laboratories

The medical laboratory is mostly important because it plays clinical roles in:

1. Testing and analyzing of clinical samples e.g. blood, urine, swabs, etc.

2. Providing vital information to aid diagnosis.

3. Monitory treatment progress.

4. Performing complex tests e.g. biological hematology, immunological and bacteriological

tests.

5. Analyzing and replying results to physicians.

6. Conducting research on the life threatening pathogen.

Safety Precautions Used in the Laboratory

1. No eating or drinking in the laboratory.

2. Protective materials e.g. gloves, lab coat, must be worn at all times etc.

3. Breakable materials must not be placed at the edge of the bench

4. Wash your hands before and after work in the laboratory.

5. Working bench must be disinfected before and after workings/experimentation.

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SOME EQUIPMENTS IN THE LABORATORY

A modern medical laboratory is furnished with some equipment which aid day-to-day activities

that are carried out in the laboratory. This equipment includes:

Centrifuge; The centrifuge is a machine which is used to separate the components of a mixture
based on their relative densities. The centrifuge is used to spin blood samples to separate the
serum or plasma from the erythrocytes or red blood cells and it is also used for packed cell
volume estimation.

The Microscope; This is one of the equipment of a medical laboratory that deals with viewing,
this instrument is used to magnify minute images (microorganisms) that cannot be seen with an
unaided eye unless with a microscope. This instrument is used in the laboratory to view
microorganisms that are present in samples such as blood, urine, etc

Incubator; An incubator is a machine that is used in the microbiology laboratory to provide a

conducive

temperature for culturing microorganisms.

Autoclave; An autoclave is a machine that is used to sterilize materials in the laboratory by

employing moist heat at 121°C. It can be used to sterilize plastics, glasses, metal ware and
culture media.

Refrigerator; They are used to cool samples or specimens for preservation. They include
refrigeration units for storing blood plasma and other blood products as well as vaccines and
other medical or pharmaceutical supplies

Syringes: They are used to pierce Patient’s veins to collect blood sample for test.

Anti-coagulant Bottles: Used for collecting Blood. They could be green capped. The grey
capped bottle contains the fluoride oxalate anticoagulant, the green capped bottle contains the

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lithium heparin anticoagulant, purple capped bottle contains the EDTA (Ethylene diamine tetra-
acetic acid) anticoagulant and yellow capped bottle is called SST(Serum separating tube) or plain
bottle.

Universal Bottles: Used for collecting samples like Urine, Sputum, Semen for analysis and
Stool for testing in the Laboratory.

Swab Sticks: These are used to collect samples like the High vaginal Swab (HVS), ear swab and
wound swab and throat swab in order to culture the swab from those parts of the body and detect
the disease causing micro-organism in such areas.

Plain Test tubes: These are used to perform some of the laboratory tests including; renal
function test and liver function tests.

Pipettes: These are used to measure small known volumes of reagent and sample while
performing the laboratory tests. The micro pipette is used to separate the plasma or serum from
the red blood cells.

The Hematocrit machine: The Machine is used to spin capillary tubes in other to determine the
Pack cell Volume (PCV) of a Patient.

The hematocrit reader: Provides a rapid, reliable and error free method of reading a hematocrit
and displaying the readings for subsequent use.

Electrophoresis Machine: Used for separation of specimen base on charges and molecular
weight. It is used for genotype test.

Slides: Used in wet preparation and staining for viewing under microscope.

Incubator: It is use to grow cultures and also used for sterilization of equipment.

Petri dishes: Used for cultivation of organism on solid media.

Weighing balance: Used in the laboratory for weighing out required amount of substances for
use.

Glucometer machine: Used to check for sugar level in the blood.

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 CHAPTER THREE

SECTION OF ENGAGEMENT DURING SIWES

1. Preparation of sputum smears for microscopy

2 .HIV status test on blood sample

3. Widal testing

4. Media preparation

5. Microscopy, culture and sensitivity test on blood, stool, urine, HVS

6. Packed cell volume

7. Pregnancy test

8. Blood grouping

Preparation of Sputum Smears for Microscopy

Aim:

To show that ‘Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ exists in sputum.

Materials Used;

Free grease slide, Pencil, Broom stick (in the absence of the applicator stick), slide rack, spirit
lamp, sputum sample, cotton wool.

Principle:

Collecting a suitable sputum (specimen) and making a good smear is as critical as the quantity of
the remaining procedures of AFB diagnostic microscopy.

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Method;

It was explained clearly to the patient, the reason for the sputum collection.

The number of the patient was written on the side of the sputum container

It was ensured that the patient who has chewed any food before sputum collection has rinsed his
mouth with water

It was also ensured that the sputum collection took place in a well-ventilated place, and privacy
was also ensured to the suspect/patient

No one was standing near the patient during sputum collection for precautionary purposes

HIV STATUS TEST ON BLOOD SAMPLES

This HIV test is one of three tests carried out within the chest clinic establishment of the Kogi
State Specialist Hospital. Majorly the “Determine” test was ran whenever HIV status was asked
to be checked by the presiding Medical Consultant using the following process;

1. Collect all necessary supplies e.g chase buffer, capillary tubes etc.

2. Using 1 strip per client, while the lot number as well as expiry date is recorded. One packets of
strips

3. The test strip is then labelled with the patient ID no. (Lab no)

4. The protective foil is removed carefully from the strip

5. 50ul of specimen is then collected just after prickling with a disposable needle using a
capillary tube or precision pipette.

6. The blood is applied by getting touching the absorbent pad on the strip.

7. A single drop of chase buffer is then applied to the absorbed blood tissue.

8. After a 15 mins waiting period results are quickly taken.

• Reactive is 2 lines of any intensity appearing in both control and test areas

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• Non – reactive is 1 line appearing in control area and no line in the test area

• Invalid – No line appears in the control area and is advised for test to be repeated with a new
test device more superior to this i.e a stat pak or unigold.

WIDAL TESTING

Widal test is a test carried out to examine the intensity of typhoid fever in an individual, in this
test the bacteria causing typhoid fever are mixed with serum containing specific antibodies
obtained from the infected individual.

Aim:

To examine the presence of Salmonella typhi in human serum.

Materials used;

Human serum, centrifuging machine, Salmonella typhi reagent, pasture pipette, test tube,
specimen bottle, applicator stick, and antigen reagents or widal kit containing the following
species: Salmonella typhi H and O, Salmonella paratyphi, Salmonella paratyphi HA, Salmonella
paratyphi HB, Salmonella paratyphi HC, Salmonella paratyphi HD.

Procedures;

1. The blood sample was collected from a patient with syringe was quickly transferred into the
specimen bottle.

2. The blood sample was spun in a centrifuge machine in order to obtain the serum

3. After obtaining the serum and a drop of the serum was placed on the white tile into 8 portions
of antigen OA, Salmonella paratyphi OB, Salmonella paratyphi OC, Salmonella paratyphi OD
kit were added to each portions and mixed with applicator stick.

4. It is then rocked, for 60 seconds to observe agglutination reaction occur.

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5. The result is read in ratio according to the rate of reaction in the following manner; 1:20, 1:40,
1:60, 1:80 and 1:160

Results:

If the agglutination occurs, its means that the result is positive with Salmonella typhi. But if
there’s no any agglutination the test is negative.

Media Preparation

Blood Agar;

The following processes was ensured in preparing blood agar;

• The nutrient agar was weighed using a beam balance.

• 98g of nutrient agar was then dissolved in 1000ml of tap water.

• The mixture was shaken well and corked properly, then it was gently heated on a Bunsen
flame.

• It was then autoclaved at 121°c for 15 minutes, the flask containing the liquefied agar was then
allowed to cool to about 60°c-70°c.

• About 20-30 ml of blood was then poured an shaken well.

• The agar was then returned to the autoclave.

• Then agar was brought out and poured on a sterile plate after allowing to cool to 37°c, and
allowed to solidify

• Labelling ensued and the agar (chocolate) was stored in fridge.

Nutrient Agar;

• The table was cleaned using normal saline,

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• Conical flask was then washed and rinsed properly.

• 98g of Nutrient Agar (NA) was dissolved in 1000ml of tap water using a spatula.

• The mixture then shaken properly and autoclaved at 121°c for 15 minutes.

• The agar was brought out and allowed to cool within body temperature and poured on a sterile
plate and stored

Thioglycollate broth;

• The table was cleaned using normal saline,

• Conical flask was then washed and rinsed properly.

• 2.9g of Thioglycollate was dissolved in 100ml of tap water using a spatula.

• The mixture then shaken properly and autoclaved at 121°c for 15 minutes.

• The broth was brought out and allowed to cool within body temperature and poured in a bottle
(about 10ml) and stored.

CLED

• The table was cleaned using normal saline,

• Conical flask was then washed and rinsed properly.

• 98g of C.L.E.D Agar (NA) was weighed using a beam balance and dissolved in 1000ml of tap
water using a spatula.

• The mixture then shaken properly and autoclaved at 121°c for 15 minutes.

• The agar was brought out and allowed to cool within body temperature and poured on a sterile
plate and stored.

MacConkey Agar;

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• The table was cleaned using normal saline,

• Conical flask was then washed and rinsed properly

• 98g of MacConkey Agar (NA) was weighed using a beam balance and dissolved in 1000ml of
tap water using a spatula.

• The mixture then shaken properly and autoclaved at 121°c for 15 minutes.

• TheMacConkey agar was brought out and allowed to cool within body temperature and

poured on a sterile plate and stored.

MICROSCOPY, SENSITIVITY, AND CULTURE OF STOOL, URINE, WOUND, HVS

Microscopy, Sensitivity, and Culture of Stool;

• A stool sample was streaked on Salmonella Shigella Agar (SSA), to enable detection of
Salmonella typhi or Shigella dysentriae if there be any.

• Only a pea size of the sample was viewed on the microscope and various Entamoeba

histolitica in the stool was seen.

• A subculture was performed on nutrient agar, taking only a pea size of the sample, and
streaking thoroughly on the plate.

• A sensitivity disk was then placed to monitor the spp’s growth in the presence of antibiotics,

• Reading of the plate was performed and could be read, as follows;

a. Macroscopy; Formed and Brown

b. Microscopy; Pus Cell – 2-3HPF, Epith. Cell – 1-2HPF

c. Culture; Scanty growth of Salmonella typhi isolated.

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Microscopy, Sensitivity, and Culture of Urine;

• Urine sample was streaked on C.L.E.D Agar, to enable detection of Staphylococcus spp among
other microorganisms if there be any.

• A subculture was performed on nutrient agar, taking only a pea size of the sample, and
streaking thoroughly on the plate.

• A sensitivity disk was then placed to monitor the spp’s growth in the presence of antibiotics,

• Reading of the plate was performed and could be read, as follows;

a. Culture; Scanty growth of Staphylococcus spp isolated.

b. Sensitive to; Rifampicin (+++), Streptomycin (++), Levofloxacin (++), Ciproflox (++)

c. Resistant to; Norfloxacin, Chloramphenicol, Erythromycin, Amoxil.

Microscopy, Sensitivity, and Culture of Wound;

• The table was cleaned.

• The conical flask was washed properly and rinsed.

• 44g of SSA (Salmonella Shigella Agar) was dissolved in 500ml of tap water.

• The solute was shaken properly and gently heated. The conical flask was then corked, and put
in an autoclave for 15mins at 121°c.

• After autoclaving was done, the liquefied SSA was allowed to cool to within body temperature
and poured on a sterile plate before storing in a fridge.

• A sterile stick was used in collecting a pea size sample from a wound.

• The culture was then streaked on a chocolate agar, divided into ¼ for use by multiple samples.

• It was then streaked on the chocolate agar, and wire loop was re-sterilized. The agar was then
stored in an incubator at 36.5°c for another 24hours.

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• After yet another 24rhours of sensitivity, it was found that some clearing was spotted at some
of the antibacterial heads.

• Reading of the plate was performed and could be read, as follows;

a. Culture: The organism was found to be Pseudomonas spp. with moderate growth.

b. Sensitive to; Tarivid (+++), Ciproflox (+++), Streptomycin (++), Gentamycin (+)

Microscopy, Sensitivity, and Culture of HVS;

• A sterile cotton bud (transportable) was used to take a pea size sample of HVS (High Vagina
Swab).

• HVS (High Vagina Swab) sample was then streaked on Chocolate Agar, to enable detection of
Staphylococcus spp among other microorganisms if there were any.

• A subculture was performed on nutrient agar, taking only a pea size of the sample, and
streaking thoroughly on the plate.

• A sensitivity disk or anti-biotical disk was then placed to monitor the species growth in the
presence of antibiotics.

• Reading of the plate was performed and could be read, as follows;

a. Microscopy; 2-3 HPF for Pus Cell, and 4-6 HPF

b. Culture; Scanty growth of Staphylococcus spp isolated after performing a catalase test

c. Sensitive to; Ciproflox (++), Gentamycin (+), Streptomycin (+).

d. Resistant to; Norfloxacin, Chloramphenicol, Erythromycin, Amoxil.

PACKED CELLS VOLUME (PCV):

PCV test is carried out to know the proportion of the whole blood in the patient’s body. PCV is
also referred to as hematocrit used to screen for anemia in the patient’s blood.

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Materials used: sealant, capillary tube, macro-hematocrit centrifuge, hematocrit reader and
patient’s blood sample.

Procedure: Venous blood was collected in an EDTA bottle; the capillary tube was dip into the
blood for diffusion of blood into the tube to the required level through capillary action.

One end of the tube was sealed using sealant, this was spun in hematocrit centrifuge for five
minutes and the reading was taken using micro- hematocrit reader.

Results: using the micro-hematocrit reader, the results is read by placing the sealed end of the
capillary tube on the line of the origin of hematocrit reader. The point where the packed blood
meets with the serum is read as the value for the PCV. The normal range is from 40-54% for
male while the range for female is from 36-46%.

PREGNANCY TEST (PT)

In determining whether a woman is pregnant or not, her blood or urine is tested for the presence
of a hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). Its presence indicates the positive
result while negative shows the absence of such result.

Aim: To detect the presence of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) hormone in a patient
‘blood.

Materials used: HCG test strip, blood sample collected into an EDTA bottle and centrifuge.

Procedure used: The collected blood sample in the EDTA was spun in the centrifuge for five
minutes at 1000r/min for the separation to take place. The serum was on top of the mixture and
HCG strip was dipped into it for about 2-5 minutes.

Results: single line showed a negative result and double lines showed positive result.

BLOOD GROUPING

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Blood grouping is carry out to determine the patient’s blood group; A, B, AB, and O using the
patient’s blood group type based on the principle of agglutination of the red blood cells carrying
a specific antigen in the presence of corresponding antibody.

Material used: patient’s blood sample, A, B, and D antisera, pipette and white tiles.

Procedure:

A drop of A, B and D antisera was placed on three different places on a clean white tiles, a drop
of EDTA coagulated uncentrifuged blood was dispensed, one drop into each wall of the tiles mix
with clean applicator stick and rock gently for about two minutes. This was observed for
agglutination.

The Result was as follows:

Anti-sera Reaction

Anti-A Agglutination

Anti-B No Agglutination

Anti-A & B Agglutination

Anti-A &B Agglutination

Anti-D Agglutination

Anti-D No Agglutination

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 CHAPTER FOUR

EXPERIENCE GAINED

At the Laboratory unit, I was exposed, conducted different test on my own. I learnt how to attend
to patients with empathy. I learnt how to collect blood from patients with syringes and needle
and always being careful to avoid pricking myself with needle that was used for patients. I also
learnt how to operate some of the equipment like microscope, centrifuge, hematocrit and many
others. I learnt how to carry out several microbiological, hematologies, chemical and serological
test. I learnt how to use microscope to identify various inclusion in the urine and view malaria
parasite.

CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED

The main problem I encountered was transportation. It was quite challenging for me that live in a
far place to get to the institute every working day.

CONCLUSION

My six months industrial training at EVERGREEN MEDICAL CENTER has been one of the
interesting, productive, instructive and educative experience in my life. Through the training I
gained insight and more comprehensive understanding about the real industrial working
condition and has greatly improved my interpersonal skill.

RECOMMENDATION

It is therefore recommended that all the medical laboratory should be encouraged to accept
SIWES students on their laboratory.

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The department of microbiology, Akwa Ibom state University should make sure the students find
appropriate places for their Industrial Training.

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