Hyderabad,  Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, developed a kiosk for healthcare workers to safely collect Covid-19 samples from suspected patients.

The COVSACK or COVID Sample Collection Kiosk is the latest addition to a portfolio of products developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to combat Covid-19.

The patient walks into the kiosk and a nasal or oral swab is taken by a healthcare professional from outside through the built-in gloves.

The unit has been developed by DRDL, in consultation with the doctors of ESIC Hospital, Hyderabad.

The kiosk is automatically disinfected without the need for human involvement, making the process free of infection spread. The shielding screen of the kiosk cabin protects the healthcare worker from the aerosols/droplet transmission while taking the sample. This reduces the requirements of PPE change by healthcare workers, DRDL said.

After the patient leaves the kiosk, four nozzle sprayers mounted in the kiosk cabin disinfects the empty chamber by spraying disinfectant mist for a period of 70 seconds. It is further flushed with water & UV light disinfection. The system is ready for next use in less than two minutes. Voice command can be given through a two-way communication system integrated with the COVSACK.

The COVSACK costs nearly Rs 1 lakh and the identified industry based at Karnataka's Belgaum can support 10 units per day.

DRDO has designed and developed two units and handed them over to ESIC Hospital, Hyderabad after successful testing.