Government introduces security features on Covid-19 test result slips to weed out forgeries

The Ministry of Health has developed unique identifiers for Covid-19 test result slips to differentiate them from the fake ones.

This follows cases of forgery of Covid-19 test result certificates.

Speaking to the journalists, the minister of Health Ruth Aceng said for one to authenticate his or her result,  the following features must be put into consideration: the signature of the manager of the testing laboratory, name of the testing laboratory, stamp of the testing laboratory, QR code and the result must be traceable in the ministry of Health data base.

Aceng advised the public that upon receiving their results, they should scan the QR code using their phone which will display the name, laboratory number, date of sample testing and the testing laboratory.

"The public is advised that if you test positive for Covid-19 whether you have signs and symptoms or not, take all the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease,"Aceng said.

Aceng also revealed that the ministry has accredited more testing labs in an effort to relieve stress from the existing ones.

The approved laboratories are 12.

From the public sector, the laboratories are; the Uganda Virus Research Institute, Central Public Health Laboratories, Makerere University College of Health Sciences Lab, Adjumani Mobile Laboratory, Tororo Mobile Laboratory, Mutukula Point of Entry Laboratory.

Others are; the Infectious Disease Institute Lab, Mild May Lab and Uganda Cancer Institute.

From the private sector, there is Lancet Laboratories, MBN Lab and Medipal Hospital Lab.

Aceng said all the laboratories are of high quality and are enrolled onto the World Health Organisation proficiency testing program.