Covid-19: Scientists use hand sanitizer in new batch testing system

With the Covid-19 pandemic, gel alcohol has come to take place in our lives. Spanish scientists took advantage of the popularity of this new habit and new batch testing method Disease with a sensitivity of up to 97%.

The innovation consists of a quick survey accessible from a QR Code printed on the flavored gel alcohol packs. With the answers received from the participants; AI software can identify if symptoms are present and assess the person’s risk of becoming infected by the virus.

Researchers from the Universidad Rovira i Virgili implemented this simple system at the entrance to the Hospital Universitario Sant Joan. citrus flavored alcohol gel – one of the first smells we stop noticing when we become infected with the coronavirus.

After applying the product to their hands and sniffing for a few minutes, approximately 500 patients at the hospital completed a questionnaire containing basic personal information (age, gender, and presence of other symptoms).

Using an artificial intelligence, the researchers filtered all the collected data and determined the importance of each. As a result, they developed a system that can screen and refer potential patients for antigen tests.

“The system we developed is based on machine learning, and the results of the survey were used to create a model that enables the collective detection of covid cases when sources do not allow for diagnostic tests,” says one of the authors, Albert Fernandez. study. , in a note posted on the EurekAlert website.

The new method guarantees an accuracy of 97%, Far superior to pharmacy antigen testsis getting popular, but only guarantees 80% of hits. The new prototype has been patented and is expected to go on sale in Europe in the coming weeks.

ARTICLE Scientific Reports: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19817-x