Today, airports across the world are on the lookout for passengers infected with the novel coronavirus using IR based thermometers to see if they have flu-like symptoms and quarantine them till the tests deem them all clear.
The conventional swab tests take 24-48 hours to surface and that can cause a lot of discomfort to people who are held in the quarantine.?
However, researchers at AES Venture in Masdar City, Abu Dabhi have created a device that would help in detecting viruses like coronavirus or Ebola just like a pregnancy or a blood sugar test -- within minutes.
The device is called ¡®The Reader¡¯ and it also has a mechanism to extract blood and share its findings with health authorities across the world through their online platform Mondialab Pro.
According to Allan Gaertke, Mondialab¡¯s chief executive and founder, ¡°The sampling part can be done by any officer or member of staff as it is very simple. It could be done at the exit of an aircraft on arrival to test passengers who may be symptomatic.¡±
The device is using Lateral Flow Immunoassay -- a kind of diagnostic tool to find harmful pathogens in the blood to spot viruses. Surprisingly, this method is also implemented to look for contaminants in water supplies, food etc.?
It has been tested to accurately detect diseases like Ebola, Malaria, Dengue, Zika as well as COVID-19 -- the Wuhan coronavirus.
These tests deliver results in just ten minutes with an accuracy similar to blood sugar and pregnancy tests.?
AES Venture is originally from Switzerland, but they¡¯ve shifted to UAE to support humanitarian relief work in Africa and Asia.
Allan further added, ¡°We have not reinvented the wheel, only digitalised this form of biochemistry, which has been used every day for 40 years,¡± Mr Gaertke said. ¡°Our idea was to create an on-site control and command centre to let NGOs working in the field.¡±
The company is currently in conversation with authorities in China to conduct a pilot research of the Reader.?