Suhrawardy Hospital to collect 40-50 coronavirus samples per hour with new WISK system

Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College & Hospital authorities have set a Walk-in Sample Kiosk (WISK) system to collect samples from potential coronavirus patients. 

WISK is a system developed by South Korea that helps in mass collection of samples for coronavirus testing. The country has been using it to collect samples from coronavirus patients. 

Some Indian states, including Kerala, Delhi and Tamilnadu are also using it.

The three booths that are set in Suhrawardy hospital with the financial aid of Brac will start collecting samples from Monday.  

Suhrawardy hospital, however, doesn't have a coronavirus testing lab. The samples collected in the hospital gets tested in Shishu hospital's lab. 

Experts believe that WISK is helpful in collecting mass numbers of samples in the shortest time. It will help to collect samples quicker and let the person collecting samples follow the proper guideline. 

"We have a shortage of PPE in the country. A technologist collects samples from hundreds of people wearing one PPE. This increases the risk of healthy people getting infected with the virus. Some of the health workers are also getting infected because of this," Assistant Professor of the Virology Department of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College & Hospital Dr Jahidur Rahman told The Business Standard.

"WISK will allow the technologists to safely collect samples from multiple patients while wearing the same PPE. This will also reduce the risk of people getting infected while waiting in a long line to test themselves," he added. 

Each of the booths has an exhaust fan to let the inside airs out, LED lights and a cooling fan mounted on one side. With wheels attached below the booth, it can be easily moved from one place to another. 

"We are almost finished preparing Molecular lab for PCR test. We will be able to test the samples ourselves once the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) provide us with the necessary equipment and kits for coronavirus testing," Dr Jahidur Rahman further said. 

The main benefit of Kiosk is the fact that the person collecting the samples doesn't need to wear a full set of personal protective equipment (PPE) or change the PPE frequently after each test. 

This system is also quick. A technologist can collect samples from up to 40-50 people within an hour.

This also reduces the possibility of virus contamination as the patient doesn't have to get inside the booth to give samples. A cleaner stays outside the booth to spray disinfectant liquids after each sample collection.