Entebbe Airport COVID-19 Testing
High-throughput COVID-19 testing facility ensuring safe travel during the pandemic.
Pandemic Response Metrics
Enabling safe international travel through rapid, high-volume COVID-19 testing
Daily Arrivals Tested
Results Under 6 Hours
Positive Cases Detected
Tests in 3 Months
The Challenge
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Entebbe International Airport needed to implement mandatory PCR testing for all international arrivals while maintaining rapid turnaround times to minimize travel disruption and ensure passenger safety.
The Solution
MedX implemented a high-volume LabXpert LIMS at Entebbe International Airport Health Lab, creating an integrated testing workflow that could process 1,500+ samples daily with real-time result delivery and comprehensive contact tracing support.
Project Context
In 2021, as international travel began to resume during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health required all international arrivals to undergo mandatory RT-PCR testing at Entebbe International Airport. This created an unprecedented need for high-volume, rapid testing capabilities at Uganda's primary international gateway.
System Implementation
Arrival Processing Workflow
- Automated passenger registration upon arrival
- Barcode-based sample tracking system
- Real-time queue management and processing
- Integration with immigration and customs systems
High-Volume Testing Operations
- 24/7 laboratory operations with shift management
- Automated RT-PCR equipment integration
- Priority processing for connecting flights
- Real-time capacity monitoring and optimization
Result Delivery & Contact Tracing
- SMS and email result notifications
- Automated positive case alerts to health authorities
- Contact tracing data integration
- Quarantine facility coordination for positive cases
Operational Excellence
Volume & Speed
- • 1,500+ passengers tested daily
- • 99% of results delivered <6 hours
- • 100,000 tests in first 3 months
- • Zero system downtime incidents
Public Health Impact
- • 6,719 positive cases detected
- • 100% contact tracing compliance
- • Prevented community transmission
- • Enabled safe travel resumption
"The LabXpert LIMS system was absolutely critical to our pandemic response at Entebbe Airport. We were able to maintain the highest testing standards while processing unprecedented volumes of passengers. The system's reliability and speed gave us confidence to keep Uganda's borders open safely."
Technical Innovation
The project showcased several technical innovations including real-time integration with airport systems, automated sample tracking using advanced barcoding, and sophisticated queue management algorithms that optimized testing throughput while minimizing passenger wait times.
Key Technical Features
Integration Capabilities
- • Airport management systems
- • Immigration databases
- • Health surveillance platforms
- • International travel databases
Automation Features
- • Automated result interpretation
- • Real-time quality control
- • Intelligent sample routing
- • Predictive capacity planning
Legacy and Impact
The success of the Entebbe Airport testing program established Uganda as a regional leader in pandemic preparedness and demonstrated the critical role of advanced laboratory information systems in maintaining essential services during health emergencies.
Pandemic Preparedness
The infrastructure and protocols developed for COVID-19 testing have been adapted for ongoing health security measures, creating a permanent capability for rapid response to future health emergencies at Uganda's primary international gateway.