COVID-19 screening: New test can detect COVID-19 by using swab samples from cellphone screens

Early detection and timely treatment of COVID-19 infection lower the risk of complications and ensure a speedy recovery. Keeping this point in mind, scientists have come up with a novel method of testing the presence of a virus by taking the swabs from the smartphone of an individual.

In this new method of screening, samples are not taken from the individual's nose or throat, which is usually done in the case of RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen, rather from the screen of their cellphone. The newly discovered Phone Screen Testing (PoST) method is non-invasive, costs less, and is equally accurate as other methods of screening the presence of the virus in an individual's respiratory system.

Time and again several studies have highlighted that our smartphones harbour millions of viruses and bacteria. When we take them to the washroom, hold them with our dirty hands, or put them on an unclean surface, the pathogens stick on the cell phone. When we hold the phone and then with the same hands touch our mouth, nose, or eyes, the invisible microorganism enters our organs.

Similarly, in the case of coronavirus, when people cough, sneeze or talk, the droplets they expel carrying pathogens settle on surfaces around them. The new study carried by scientists explains that when a person is infected with coronavirus, it can be detected from their cellphone's screen as well as it is personal items we carry all day long.

In this testing method, the samples are collected from the phone screen with swabs like the ones used for nasopharyngeal sampling. They are then embedded in a saline water solution and subjected to a regular PCR test.

The team led by University College London researchers performed this test on 540 individuals before coming to the conclusion. During the test, they took the swab that underwent both- normal PCR test and PoST. The tests were carried out in different laboratories by independent teams. Moreover, they were not informed about the outcomes of the testing. At the end of the study, the researchers found out that the phone test was able to detect 81.3 per cent to 100 per cent of contagious people with a high viral load.

Out of all, 51 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the RT-PCR test and 15 had a low CT value. These people were also tested positive in the phone test. The researchers clarified that this new method of screening helped to detect 100 per cent COVID-10 positive cases in individuals with high viral load.

The phone screening method to detect the presence of the virus is cheaper, faster, and also accurate. It can be easy to carry out mass testing to detect the presence of the virus, especially when the cases of the coronavirus rise drastically. The researchers pitched this method of screening as an excellent way for mass testing the people. As we know that some people are asymptomatic and spread the virus unknowingly. Using this testing method it can be easy to carry out regular checking at the mass level to detect the presence of the virus.