The increasing fake Covid-19 test results among travellers leaving Uganda has been attributed to the cheaper substandard test kits flooding the Ugandan market and lack of training
Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) executive director Prof Pontiano Kaleebu is now calling for tighter inspections to save the country from crooks seeking to profiteer from SARS-CoV-2 serology tests.
Kaleebu whose institute's Covid-19 reference laboratory is recognized by WHO and other global bodies says before the Health ministry opened up testing to involve the private sector, Covid-19 testing was better organised with no fake results.
Immunologists are equally worried that the bad tests could further put more restrictions on Ugandans travelling abroad at the time when every country insists on negative coronavirus test results at immigration.
There is concern that these deceptive tests and results might cause unsuspecting Ugandans to delay or stop appropriate medical treatment, leading to serious and life-threatening harm. It is emerging that the fake Covid-19 tests are being issued by laboratories that were not accredited to carry out tests for the disease.
Many business people have taken an interest in the field, many of them not willing to adhere to set standards. As a result, some of the tests they carry out, use unapproved equipment whose accuracy is unknown.
The revelation comes following several reports that some travelers at Entebbe airport present fake Covid-19 test results. Labour exports companies have particularly been hit hard as they reportedly tried to "beat around the corners" by seeking services from backyard laboratories which appear cheaper than accredited ones.
Heath ministry commissioner Dr Susan Nabadda Ndidde, also the executive director Uganda National Health Laboratories (UNHLS) says they have received reports that many of the fake results come from laboratories that go to people's homes to pick samples. She says some of them offer to pick samples from homes but they are not known.
"We have noted people are moving on boda bodas, mobile vans collecting samples from home. We're not aware about them. We're not responsible for that sample taken. We're not aware if they are trained or and we urge you to desist from having your sample taken by someone who is not a qualified collector," she said.
Nabadda urges people to only get tested from government accredited laboratories. The two officials were panelists at the release of the Twaweza Sauti Za Wanainchi survey finding on Covid-19 testing. The survey conducted in Kampala, Kyotera and Tororo districts found that more than a third of the households in the three districts report that one or more household members had taken a coronavirus test at some point. But some had complained about the cost of coronavirus tests.
All Covid-19 testing laboratories are supposed to be accredited by the UVRI. A team from UVRI carried out a series of site visits and assessments at the laboratories to make sure they are using approved testing kits and methods. In addition to this, all staff members need to have training in molecular testing. Also, the type of reagents available at the laboratory are tested.
To date, only 25 laboratories have been accredited. Some of these include UVRI, Central Public Health Laboratory, Infectious Disease Laboratory, Makerere hospital, Mild May, Joint Clinical Research Center, MBN Laboratories, ANCA Biotech, Fort Portal Regional Referral hospital, Case clinic, MSF-Epicenter, Rakai Health Sciences, Text Xpress, ACTG laboratories and Same Day.
Other testing places are at Mutukula, Tororo and Adjumani points of entry. The experts also linked the occurrence of fake test results to a lack of knowledge among the people carrying out the tests. According to Kaleebu, persons who undertake PCR testing have to undergo training. However, even some accredited laboratories do not have trained staff. As such many get people who do not know what to do.
Dr Grace Kiwanuka, the executive director of the Uganda Health Federation says that the public needs to try and get tested at accredited laboratories since some places are using equipment that has not been approved for use in the country.
"We have received reports that there are unaccredited laboratories carrying out testing. They are importing testing equipment through unofficial channels that we don't know. Their products have not been retested here. There's little we can do but encourage people to go get tested from only government approved laboratories. When they go to these unapproved places they put their households at risk of being infected," she said.
The experts say they want the Health ministry and the National Drug Authority to stop the import of substandard Covid-19 testing equipment.
"We do not know how these unapproved products end up on the market. We have talked to NDA but we still see them. We need a multi-sectoral approach. We cannot do this on our own. We want the ministry of Health to come in but also to involve organisation such as the Allied Health so that they can follow up on the work in some of these laboratories because fake tests do not just affect us but they give us a bad picture abroad," Kaleebu said.
Types of Covid-19 tests
There are three categories of testing. The first one is to identify whether the actual Covid-19 virus genetic material exists, and that's called a NAAT test. And it's the PCR testing where you would have a nasal pharyngeal swab or a pharyngeal swab taken.
And then they look for the genetic material of the virus itself. The second type of testing is when they try to identify one of the outer proteins of the viral shell or envelope, And that's called antigen testing. So, they try to detect the outer protein of the virus.
And the third type is to detect within the human body, whether they've developed antibodies. So, it looks for antibodies that are specific to the outer portion of the virus itself. So, it shows whether the individual has mounted an immune response or developed immunity towards that specific virus or to Covid-19.
The value of getting tested
According to WHO, there are several aspects of that. The first one is to identify whether a person has the disease or not. That's important to be able to provide therapy, treatment, but also to specify who does need to go and test further of the contacts of that specific person.
So that's a big value to address the pandemic. When medics talk about the value of antibody testing, it becomes very important to know whether the person was exposed in the past.
And, when you hear about understanding the immunity of the population, if you will, that is done through antibody testing.
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