Covid-19: IATA adds Unilabs testing network to its Travel Pass

Unilabs Covid-19 testing network will be integrated into IATA’s Travel Pass app, the company has announced.

The development makes Unilabs one of the first major lab groups to be integrated into IATA’s Travel Pass app. Proof of a negative Covid-19 test is required by many governments as a condition of entry.

Unilabs will be able to upload test results in the IATA Travel Pass, which are then checked against the IATA Timatic global registry of national health requirements, to produce an “OK to Travel” status. Through the app, passengers can share their status and digital test certificates with authorities, airports, and airlines.

Unilabs and IATA are currently running a pilot program in the UAE. Once the processes are successfully up and running, the initiative will be rolled out to other entities of the Unilabs network in many countries.

Read: Etihad begins IATA Travel Pass trials on flights from Abu Dhabi to North America

Alongside PCR tests, Unilabs also performs antigen and serology tests. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the lab group has performed close to 10 million Covid-19 tests across its network in 17 countries.

“Covid-19 testing will play a role in re-starting international travel. Travellers will need to understand test requirements, locate labs, verify their identity to the lab and transfer their test results to relevant parties – airlines and governments – as needed. Our partnership with Unilabs will give travellers access to Unilabs’ extensive network and help them securely and efficiently manage their test results,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director-general.

The IATA Travel Pass provides information on entry requirements, directs travellers to trusted labs, and allows passengers to receive and manage digital certificates for Covid-19 tests or vaccinations.

“As international travel starts coming back, we are ready to do our bit – delivering the fast, effective, and reliable Covid-19 tests that will get people moving again,” said Michiel Boehmer, Unilabs’ president and COO.

Read: Dubai’s Emirates initiates trial of IATA Travel Pass