In
a major development in the fight against the novel Coronavirus pandemic, the
United Arab Emirates has developed rapid COVID-19 laser testing technology that
gives promising results within seconds. QuantLase Imaging Lab, the
medical-research arm of the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange-listed International
Holdings Company, IHC, announced that it has developed equipment that will
allow UAE to conduct rapid mass-screenings generating results in seconds. With
the newly-developed equipment, UAE will be able to carry out testing at a wider
scale.
At
a time when scientists across the world are working tirelessly to devise faster
methods of testing for COVID-19 suspected patients, the UAE is aiming to be
recognized as a hub of research and innovation, with the development of this
technology. This successful invention will enable mass-scale screening of
Coronavirus cases, providing a new dimension to virus tracing and testing.
Dr
Pramod Kumar, head of the research team at the UAE lab, said that the equipment
uses a CMOS detector, enabling mass-scale screening which provides results in
seconds. He stated that that the device is user-friendly, non-invasive and
low-cost, adding that it is suitable for use not only in hospitals and public
places like cinemas and shopping malls but for in-house testing and monitoring
as well, with ‘little hands-on training’.
"Our
laser-based DPI (Diffractive Phase Interferometry) technique, based on
optical-phase modulation, is able to give a sign of infection within a few
seconds. It will be a game-changer in tackling the spread of the
coronavirus," Dr Kumar said according to a report by state news agency
WAM.
Responding
to the development, Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of
Health and Prevention, expressed hope, saying that the UAE health officials are
closely monitoring the progress of trials with QuantLase in order to test the
equipment.
"We
are always following innovations related to the early and rapid detection of
COVID–19. The government is keen on supporting initiatives that help the
healthcare system in the UAE. We are proud to see a technology that works and
that will help to protect our people better."
Dr
Pramod Kumar further mentioned that the process underwent several stages of
tests, after which the machine has produced results with high accuracy in
optimal control setup.
"With
the first 1,000 tests, we refined our experiment and then applied it to the
rest of the trials," he said.
He
briefed about the significant role that artificial intelligence (AI) has played
in the diagnostic system, stating that the lab is using G42, a leading AI and
Cloud Computing company, to further enhance the laser program.
Nader Ahmed Al Hammadi, member of the Board of
Directors at IHC, expressed pride in contributing to UAE's fight against the
global pandemic. He said: "IHC is proud to play a role
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