Conference Abstract | Volume 8, Abstract NACNDC/19JASH011 (Oral) | Published: 18 Nov 2025
Abdunoor Nyombi1,&, Annet Akello2, Daisy Kamusiime2, Julius Tumwine3, David Semugabi2, Christopher Mukama2, Ignatius Senteza2, Mary Nabukenya Mudiope2, Raymond Byaruhanga1, Miriam Murungi1, Seyoum Dejene1, Henry Luzze1
1National TB and Leprosy Control Division-Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda, 2US Mission Local Partner Health Services- TB Activity-Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Kampala, Uganda, 3GENLAB Solutions International Limited, Kampala, Uganda
&Corresponding author: Abdunoor Nyombi, National TB and Leprosy Control Division-Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Email: abdunoorn@gmail.com, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0495-5026
Received: 18 Aug 2025, Accepted: 20 Oct 2025, Published: 18 Nov 2025
Domain: Laboratory Systems
Keywords: LabXpertDS; Digital solution; Data Connectivity
©Abdunoor Nyombi et al Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Abdunoor Nyombi et al Strengthening diagnostic connectivity and patient care through Uganda’s home-grown LabXpertDS innovation. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(ConfProc6):00011. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO6-00011
Accurate, reliable, and timely laboratory results are critical for effective patient management and public health response. In Uganda, delays in results and frequent machine breakdowns have often hindered patient care. To address these challenges, a locally developed web-based system (LabXpertDS) was introduced to enhance surveillance, instrument performance tracking, and patient care across the country.
From 2022 to 2024, the National TB and Leprosy Control Program, with support from the United States Government, deployed LabXpertDS, a home-developed digital solution, on 300 GeneXpert machines, 41 Truenat machines, and 70 digital X-ray machines. This innovation enables automated data capture, instant SMS result notifications to clinicians, and centralised monitoring of equipment utilisation and functionality. The system also supports real-time reporting of patients diagnosed with multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB to enable timely referral to treatment initiation sites.
By August 2025, over 688,000 laboratory results were sent as instant SMS notifications to clinicians and patients, reducing result return from days to hours. The system enabled real-time reporting of 2,800 Persons with MDR-TB for timely linkage to treatment. Further, LabXpert has reduced equipment downtime from 2 weeks to 2 days due to real-time alerts sent to Cepheid Field Service Teams, enabling faster repairs.
LabXpertDS, a home-grown Ugandan innovation, has demonstrated tangible impact in improving patient care by reducing time to treatment initiation for both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB. To sustain these gains, continued investment in system maintenance, local capacity, and infrastructure is essential. Achieving nationwide implementation will strengthen patient-centred care, program performance, and maximize the system’s contribution to strengthening Uganda’s health sector.
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