DRDL Hyderabad develops kiosk to collect COVID-19 samples

Hyderabad: The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad has developed a kiosk, COVSACK, where health care workers can collect samples from suspected COVID-19 patients.

The kiosk was developed in consultation with doctors of ESIC, Hyderabad. People with symptoms of the Corona virus can walk into the kiosk where a health care professional will take a nasal or oral swab. The samples are collected from the outside with the help of built-in gloves.

A spokesperson from DRDL said, "The shielding screen of the kiosk cabin protects the health care worker from the aerosols/droplet transmission while taking the sample. This reduces the need for medical workers to change PPEs."

The kiosk is automatically disinfected and requires no human involvement, eliminating the threat of the spread of infection. After the patient leaves the kiosk, four nozzle sprayers mounted in the cabin disinfects the empty chamber by spraying disinfectant mist for 70 seconds. Further, water and UV light disinfection flush the cabin and the unit is ready for next use in less than two minutes.

The DRDL spokesperson further said, "Voice command can be given through a two-way communication system integrated into the COVSACK. It is possible to configure the kiosk to be used either from inside or outside as required by the medical professionals."

The kiosk costs nearly Rs. 1 Lakh and the identified industry based at Belgaum, Karnataka, can produce 10 units per day. DRDL has designed and developed two units and handed them over to ESIC Hospital after testing.