Testing a Heat-Resistant Sample Collection Booth for Covid-19 to Reduce Cross-Contamination Risks and Support Healthcare Workers in Bac Giang…
After a period of research and design, a team of innovators from Nam Viet Design Project, PAM Air (a non-profit organization focused on environmental monitoring and air quality control), and Signify (Hanoi) has successfully installed a heat-resistant sample collection booth aimed at minimizing cross-contamination for healthcare workers. The first unit installed for testing was at the Tan Yen District Health Center.
Healthcare workers at Tan Yen District testing the process in the heat-resistant sample collection booth.
In recent days, healthcare workers in Bac Giang have been racing against time to collect samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing. Working continuously under the scorching heat, while wearing protective suits, has made the sample collection process arduous and detrimental to their health. To address this issue, the team focused on researching and successfully testing the heat-resistant sample collection booth.
A project representative stated that the unique feature of this heat-resistant sample collection booth lies in its flexible design, combined with smart cooling technology from DLCorp and Philips UVC disinfection solutions.
The project team utilized smart IoT-connected products capable of real-time monitoring and control, ensuring a stable and safe environment. The IoT solution can proactively control and activate the ventilation and air conditioning systems based on time or environmental conditions, ensuring a stable room temperature.
Additionally, it monitors the air quality inside the testing booth with indicators for CO2 concentration, fine dust (PM10, PM2.5), temperature, and humidity. All IoT devices are monitored and controlled directly through a mobile application. Notably, the application of the UVC solution ensures a disinfection efficiency of up to 99.99% compared to 36% when using chemicals; it acts within seconds…
With dimensions of approximately 1.2m x 2.4m x 2.65m, the medical team can sit inside a cool, sanitized space and extend their hands through two small openings on the window to collect samples. This solution ensures the health of the medical team and enhances the effectiveness of their response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In terms of operation, natural air from the environment is drawn into the air cushion chamber by a forced ventilation fan, passes through a filter, and is then exposed to Philips UVC lights, which disinfect without producing ozone before entering the room. The air is then circulated through the air conditioning unit, cooled, and further filtered to ensure air quality.
The sample collection booth environment is equipped with smart and safe systems, from UVC lights to public address systems. All surfaces are disinfected within 8 minutes before each shift of healthcare workers. Moreover, the systems operate automatically and can be controlled remotely, minimizing surface contact for the healthcare workers and allowing them to focus on sample collection.
This smart sample collection booth, once operational, will ensure safety and maintain environmental quality for healthcare workers, increasing their work efficiency. During this phase, it is considered one of the practical solutions, with an optimal model that can be easily replicated to support and protect frontline healthcare workers against the pandemic. The project representative mentioned that the production team can currently complete 50 units per week to respond to the health crisis.
