How smartphone technology can aid COVID-19 testing
Mobile health start-up iXensor explains how its company disrupted the conventional COVID-19 testing paradigm in Europe.
In October 2020, the European Commission issued a Recommendation on COVID-19 testing strategies, in which the use of rapid antigen tests was encouraged continuously as a way of strengthening countries’ testing capacity. The extent and intensity of these efforts vary from country to country and are constantly changing as the infection rates change and new technologies come into play.
The conventional COVID-19 testing deploys the PCR test, and the access to PCR tests is primarily limited to healthcare facilities and private medical labs. Its prolonged turnaround times, which take one to three days for reporting test results, can hinder the swift detection of infected cases.
Mobile health technology to enable new COVID-19 testing paradigm:
iXensor, a mobile health start-up, that was fostered in Silicon Valley and incorporated in Taiwan, developed the fully digitalised rapid antigen testing and digital platform for COVID-19 management. PixoTest provides computer analysed COVID-19 test results, lowering the risks caused by misinterpretation of human eyes. The palm sized PixoTest Analyser transmits digitalised test results to PixoHealth Pass App users in as short as five minutes for people with high viral loads.
The PixoHealth Pass App serves as a free digital health pass for app users to access the controlled places where demand a negative PixoTest COVID-19 antigen test result. The app retrieves test results via an encrypted QR code format simultaneously as soon as the PixoTest Analyser finishes the analysis of the rapid test. The testing-to-reporting processes are entirely integrated without the need for manual record and interpretation of test results, demonstrating rapid, cheat-proof, and connected testing experience to organisations and test recipients.
Digital platform to establish the new norm for returning to normal life:
To meet the public health and social interests of getting back to post-pandemic normal, iXensor offers the additional PixoHealth Pass Admin App and Web Portal, complementary with PixoTest, as an enterprise solution for COVID-19 screening and access control. It supports organisations such as schools, manufacturers, multinational logistics companies, event organisers, and health authorities to easily maintain safety and sustain operations.
PixoHealth Pass Admin App verifies the authenticity of PixoTest displayed by PixoHealth Pass App users with one scan on the smartphones. One QR code scan takes only a few seconds to complete, and the scan can bring benefits to an entire organisation. As it further empowers organisations using PixoHealth Pass Admin Web Portal to keep digital records of people’s COVID-19 test results and trace COVID-19 related symptoms. The digital tool allows for prevention to becoming an outbreak cluster, swift contact tracing, and the implementation of prompt and targeted isolation and quarantine actions.
Integrated data management mechanism meets GDPR:
GDPR imposes challenges on how healthtech companies bring forth innovative products. iXensor has taken the principle of GDPR compliance into account in the early stage of solution design. The PixoTest and PixoHealth Pass products work together with a fine balance of offering convenience while complying with privacy policy to users.
Up until now, iXensor has rolled out multiple clinical studies in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. As of 25th March, the IXensor’s PixoTest is undergoing the submission process for CE marking and WHO EUA.