Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, has added another product to the portfolio of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to combat Coronavirus (COVID-19) by developing COVID Sample Collection Kiosk (COVSACK).
DRDL has developed the unit in consultation with the doctors of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Hyderabad. The COVSACK is a kiosk for use by healthcare workers for taking COVID-19 samples from suspected infected patients. The patient under test walks into the Kiosk and health care professional takes a nasal or oral swab from outside through the built-in gloves.
The Kiosk is automatically disinfected without the need for human involvement, making the process free of infection spread. The shielding screen of kiosk cabin protects the health care worker from the aerosols or transmission while taking the sample. This reduces the requirements of PPE change by health care workers.
After the patient leaves the Kiosk, four nozzle sprayers mounted in the kiosk cabin disinfect the empty chamber by spraying disinfectant mist for 70 seconds. It is further flushed with water and UV light disinfection. The system is ready for the next use in less than two minutes. Voice command can be given through the two-way communication system integrated with the COVSACK. It is possible to configure COVSACK to be used either from inside or outside as required by the medical professionals.
The COVSACK costs nearly Rs one lakh and the identified industry based at Belgaum, Karnataka, can support ten units each day. The DRDO has designed and developed two units and handed over these to ESIC Hospital, Hyderabad, after successful testing.
