Smart toilet for passive monitoring of SARS-CoV-2

In a recent study published in Nature Digital MedicineResearchers highlighted a potential strategy for passively monitoring coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using the smart toilet platform Coronavirus: Integrated Diagnosis (COV-ID). ..

The proliferation of coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in severe acute respiratory syndrome guarantees extensive and frequent continuous testing to identify and mitigate the development of new epidemics. Concha and nasopharyngeal swabs are routinely obtained for standard COVID-19 tests, but are associated with increased patient discomfort and must be collected manually.

The persistent nature of the pandemic can lead to psychological fatigue and reduce the public’s sensitivity to COVID-19 control. In this regard, passive monitoring systems such as fully automated smart toilets that enable the detection of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) in feces could be a valuable tool for COVID-19 diagnosis.

In particular, previous studies have reported that SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in feces even after lung symptoms have disappeared, with negative results approximately 5 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection test. increase.

Interestingly, previous publications by the authors of this study have shown that smart home residents are more embracing smart toilets. Therefore, the team envisioned passive smart toilet-based testing as an important strategy in advancing precision health-based COVID-19 diagnosis.

study: Smart toilets for monitoring COVID-19 surges: passive diagnostics and public health.. Image Credit: Pixel-Shot / Shutterstock

About research

In this study, researchers reported the potential use of smart toilets for passive and automated COVID-19 diagnosis and longitudinal monitoring.

The COVI-ID smart toilet platform consists of bidet-style attachable attachments that can be easily installed in populated public spaces such as shopping complexes, sports arenas, hospitals and schools. There is no need to replace the existing infrastructure.The smart toilet has modules for fully automated fecal specimen collection and ultrafast SARS-CoV-2RNA detection using in situ. Nucleic acid Amplification test (NAAT). In addition, smart toilet technology guarantees efficient disinfection.

The smart toilet has a built-in quick response (QR) code that can be scanned when an individual sits and defecates and automatically obtains a stool sample. Within minutes, the test results will be retrieved and uploaded to a centralized anonymous trace network. These tracking networks can be extended to generate real-time data to determine the prevalence of COVID-19. It helps prevent epidemics and local outbreaks by detecting the causative agent.

The COV-ID toilet serves as an important business centralized diagnostic center to detect COVID-19 infections in asymptomatic populations and facilitate early diagnosis and isolation. Fecal sampling is automated with rapid turnaround time for viral RNA testing, and the toilet seat / surface is disinfected among users. Users can enroll in the Health Portal or Trace Network (which can be run on mobile devices while in the bathroom), warn of test results (ideally within 15 minutes), link to medical care and provide for isolation. Advice and guidelines from your doctor. Aggregate data can also be used for population monitoring to assess community burden.

In addition, if an individual agrees to provide a mobile phone number, the COV-ID platform’s tracing system can be linked to Google and Apple devices via Bluetooth and uploaded to individual smartphones. Individuals with positive test results will also be provided with the required quarantine protocol and confirmation test information.

Certain prerequisites must be met in order to use the COVID-19 monitoring smart toilet. First, the time required should be minimal (ideally 15 minutes). This is completed by using ultrafast NAAT for viral RNA detection. This reduces the detection time from hours to less than 15 minutes for standard NAAT methods such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, the COV-ID system will perform SARS-CoV-2 detection in parallel, allowing users to access the toilet quickly.

Manual collection of fecal samples is an unpleasant and unpleasant procedure that limits the use of feces for COVID-19 detection. Therefore, the COV-ID platform sample collection procedure has been fully automated. This has reduced human intervention and improved patient compliance.

In addition, the toilet should be hygienic and prevent cross-contamination between COVID-19 test samples. This prerequisite can be met by using UV sterilizers to strictly sanitize the toilet surface and analyzers on the COV-ID platform.

Smart Toilet, an Internet of Things (IoT) technology-based system, securely connects to a centralized trace network, enabling active user participation, helping to develop COVID-19 guidelines, and the future. This was fulfilled by using centralized tracing to transfer information to Google and Apple smartphone devices on the COVI-ID platform via Bluetooth.

Another important prerequisite for the success of COV-ID was maintaining user privacy. The smart toilet platform anonymizes individual user information and uploads them to the centralized tracking network only if the user chooses to provide a mobile phone number.

In addition to COVID-19 diagnostics, the COV-ID platform Oxygen saturation Levels and body temperature are important parameters for assessing the severity of COVID-19. The COV-ID platform has also enabled the analysis of stool morphology that can detect diarrhea, a potential COVID-19 symptom.

In conclusion, the findings show that the COV-ID smart toilet platform provides a non-invasive, rapid and convenient approach for passive and longitudinal monitoring of COVID-19. This platform enables early detection of COVID-19 in asymptomatic infected individuals, thereby facilitating the prevention of potential outbreaks. However, the success of the platform depends heavily on user consent and approval.