Firm unfolds process to curb fake COVID-19 test results

Following the ugly trend of fake COVID-19 test results being peddled by international travellers, SYNLAB Nigeria, one of the authorised COVID-19 testing laboratories in the country, has put some measures in place to ensure that COVID-19 reports from their labs are easily authenticated, verifiable and differentiated from forged results.
 
Managing Director/CEO of the firm, Dr Pamela Ajayi, said the practice by criminal elements was not only increasing the chances of spreading the virus, but also soiling the name of reputable laboratories authorised by the government to carry out COVID-19 tests. This, he added, compelled SYNLAB Nigeria to put in place an authentication process.
 
She listed the authentication process to include a unique security feature and a 2D barcode on all SYNLAB COVID-19 reports, adding that this feature could be used by individuals and law enforcement officials to authenticate SYNLAB COVID-19 reports.
 
She explained the two-step process to follow thus: “Scan the 2D code with any smartphone, open your Camera app and point it steadily for about three seconds towards the 2D code and ensure your phone is enabled to scan QR codes. Open the URL that comes up to verify that the data on the result matches the one revealed in the URL.”
 
Ajayi said if the key data, such as patient name, laboratory code, collection date, and test result do not match, then it is a fake result, adding that if the data shown on the URL matches with that on the report, it is a valid COVID-19 report issued by SYNLAB.