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Suara.com – Swab Test is one method used to detect COVID-19. Unfortunately, this way too risky for health workers in its implementation because it can be exposed.
In order to reduce the risk of spreading the new type of Corona virus to medical personnel, Singapore innovated to make an automatic swab testing robot called SwabBot.
To use the SwabBot, patients place their nostrils on two disposable pieces of nasal plastic, which contain swab sticks or cotton buds. This specimen collection medium can be extended so that it can collect samples from the nasal passages.
The swab process is carried out independently by the patient by pushing the chin against a machine that has a sensor to pull back the cotton buds if something is blocked or obstructed.
“It’s a bit tickling but normal. It feels ticklish but very soft, there’s no harm in trying it at all,” said Leo Lim. Product Manager Biobot Surgical, the technology company that co-developed SwabBot with the National Cancer Center Singapore (NCCS), was quoted as saying New York Post on Sunday (27/9/2020).
He said, SwabBot was developed so that the mass swab process during the pandemic can be more practical, efficient, and minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19.
Even so, the machine still has to be cleaned, maintained and reinstalled manually by human hands, in a relatively short process, which is only 20 seconds.
“We wanted something that was able to save energy and be less risky for health workers. And we really didn’t expect the response to be so big,” said Professor Tan Ngian Chye of NCCS about this cutting-edge device.
Nowadays, the independent swab test kit is only a prototype product. However, Biobot has plans to commercialize it by making 100 SwabBots at an early stage of production.
Biobot said that his party had not provided a nominal value for SwabBot. Even so, they said they had received many requests from within and outside the country.
Prior to Singapore, an automatic swab testing robot had also been developed by Taiwan’s Brain Navi.
Notes from the Editor: Let’s be wise to apply the rules of maintaining distance from other people or physical distancing, about 2 square meters, and always follow the new normal health protocol. Use a mask every time you leave the house and maintain personal hygiene, especially washing your hands regularly. Always support each other and take care of each other by not standing close together, clustering, and chatting, in overcoming the Corona Virus Disease or Covid-19 pandemic. Suara.com join the action # MediaLawanCovid-19. Information about Covid-19 can be obtained at the Ministry of Health Hotline 021-5210411 or contact number 081-2121-23119
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