AI Algorithm-Based Test Can Speed Up COVID-19 Testing Eightfold and Locate Asymptomatic Carriers
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 06 Apr 2020 |

Illustration
A team of researchers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to develop an algorithm-based test that can speed COVID-19 testing eightfold and help locate asymptomatic carriers. The research team from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s (BGU; Beersheba, Israel) Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics and the National Institute of Biotechnology, Soroka University Medical Center’s Virology Lab, and the Open University’s Department of Computer Science is using a laboratory robot to conduct the tests.
BGU has launched the BGU Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force to harness the University's brainpower and ingenuity to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic and has decided to set aside resources to bring the most promising projects to fruition. BGU has scientific experts, accomplished researchers, and accumulated institutional expertise spread across the University and housed in various departments. The Task Force will consolidate the University’s resources and leverage its excellent and close collaborative ties with key stakeholders from the realm of public health
“The initial results are very promising, and we are validating the method. Experience shows us that the way to slow down the spread of the pandemic is to increase the number of tests and break the chain of infection,” said Prof. Angel Porgador who is a part of the research team. “Our method should enable a widespread operation in the near future to detect the virus in the general population, which is not quarantined, but which could threaten the public more than the patients currently under observation.”
“In light of the mounting evidence of the importance of asymptomatic carriers in spreading COVID-19, it is critical to locate these carriers as quickly as possible, to isolate them and thus slow the infection rate in high-risk groups. We believe that our method will help do so by dramatically speeding up testing,” said Dr. Tomer Hertz who is also a part of the research team.
The researchers have determined that the key is to divide the samples into different pools. “The planning and constructing of the pools and the way we mix the individual samples enables us to identify and follow up with those found positive for COVID-19 after far fewer tests than the norm,” explained Dr. Noam Shental from the Open University’s Department of Computer Science.
“The next stage of the experiment is to test the medical services personnel at Soroka hospital in conjunction with the Infectious Disease Unit headed by Dr. Lior Nesher.”
“The sooner we can located asymptomatic carriers, the sooner we can return to a more normal life, so this innovation holds promising potential,” said Doug Seserman, chief executive officer of the New York City-based American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. “We have a number of tests in development as a result of the fast mobilization of our researchers to address the pandemic.”
Related Links:
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
BGU has launched the BGU Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force to harness the University's brainpower and ingenuity to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic and has decided to set aside resources to bring the most promising projects to fruition. BGU has scientific experts, accomplished researchers, and accumulated institutional expertise spread across the University and housed in various departments. The Task Force will consolidate the University’s resources and leverage its excellent and close collaborative ties with key stakeholders from the realm of public health
“The initial results are very promising, and we are validating the method. Experience shows us that the way to slow down the spread of the pandemic is to increase the number of tests and break the chain of infection,” said Prof. Angel Porgador who is a part of the research team. “Our method should enable a widespread operation in the near future to detect the virus in the general population, which is not quarantined, but which could threaten the public more than the patients currently under observation.”
“In light of the mounting evidence of the importance of asymptomatic carriers in spreading COVID-19, it is critical to locate these carriers as quickly as possible, to isolate them and thus slow the infection rate in high-risk groups. We believe that our method will help do so by dramatically speeding up testing,” said Dr. Tomer Hertz who is also a part of the research team.
The researchers have determined that the key is to divide the samples into different pools. “The planning and constructing of the pools and the way we mix the individual samples enables us to identify and follow up with those found positive for COVID-19 after far fewer tests than the norm,” explained Dr. Noam Shental from the Open University’s Department of Computer Science.
“The next stage of the experiment is to test the medical services personnel at Soroka hospital in conjunction with the Infectious Disease Unit headed by Dr. Lior Nesher.”
“The sooner we can located asymptomatic carriers, the sooner we can return to a more normal life, so this innovation holds promising potential,” said Doug Seserman, chief executive officer of the New York City-based American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. “We have a number of tests in development as a result of the fast mobilization of our researchers to address the pandemic.”
Related Links:
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Latest COVID-19 News
- Low-Cost System Detects SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Hospital Air Using High-Tech Bubbles
- World's First Inhalable COVID-19 Vaccine Approved in China
- COVID-19 Vaccine Patch Fights SARS-CoV-2 Variants Better than Needles
- Blood Viscosity Testing Can Predict Risk of Death in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
- ‘Covid Computer’ Uses AI to Detect COVID-19 from Chest CT Scans
- MRI Lung-Imaging Technique Shows Cause of Long-COVID Symptoms
- Chest CT Scans of COVID-19 Patients Could Help Distinguish Between SARS-CoV-2 Variants
- Specialized MRI Detects Lung Abnormalities in Non-Hospitalized Long COVID Patients
- AI Algorithm Identifies Hospitalized Patients at Highest Risk of Dying From COVID-19
- Sweat Sensor Detects Key Biomarkers That Provide Early Warning of COVID-19 and Flu
- Study Assesses Impact of COVID-19 on Ventilation/Perfusion Scintigraphy
- CT Imaging Study Finds Vaccination Reduces Risk of COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Embolism
- Third Day in Hospital a ‘Tipping Point’ in Severity of COVID-19 Pneumonia
- Longer Interval Between COVID-19 Vaccines Generates Up to Nine Times as Many Antibodies
- AI Model for Monitoring COVID-19 Predicts Mortality Within First 30 Days of Admission
- AI Predicts COVID Prognosis at Near-Expert Level Based Off CT Scans
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
Innovative Risk Score Predicts Heart Attack or Stroke in Kidney Transplant Candidates
Heart researchers have utilized an innovative risk assessment score to accurately predict whether patients being evaluated for kidney transplants are at risk for future major cardiac events, such as a... Read more
AI Algorithm Detects Early-Stage Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Using EHRs
Liver disease, which is treatable when detected early, often goes unnoticed until it reaches advanced stages. Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the most prevalent form of liver disease,... Read moreCritical Care
view channel
Novel Coating Significantly Extends Longevity of Implantable Biosensors
Wearable and implantable biosensors capable of accurately detecting biological molecules in a non-invasive or minimally invasive way offer enormous potential for monitoring patients’ health and their responses... Read more
Nanogel-Based Drug Delivery Technology to Improve UTI Treatment
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are not only widespread and costly but also highly debilitating, significantly impacting the quality of life for those affected. The antibiotics commonly used to treat UTIs... Read more
New IV Pole Improves Safety and Ease of Administering IV Medications at Hospital Bedside
Preventable medication errors affect around 500,000 hospitalized patients in the U.S. every year. A significant portion of these errors occur with intravenous (IV) smart pumps, which require a precise... Read moreSurgical Techniques
view channel
Easy-To-Apply Gel Could Prevent Formation of Post-Surgical Abdominal Adhesions
Surgical adhesions are a frequent and often life-threatening complication following open or laparoscopic abdominal surgery. These adhesions develop in the weeks following surgery as the body heals.... Read more
Groundbreaking Leadless Pacemaker to Prevent Invasive Surgeries for Children
Leadless pacemakers marked a significant advancement in cardiac care, primarily because traditional pacemakers are dependent on leads, which are prone to breakage over time. Currently, two FDA-approved... Read morePatient Care
view channel
Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
Approximately 4 million patients in the European Union acquire healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) or nosocomial infections each year, with around 37,000 deaths directly resulting from these infections,... Read more
First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds
Reducing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) remains a pressing issue within global healthcare systems. In the United States alone, 1.7 million patients contract HAIs annually, leading to approximately... Read more
Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization
An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more
Game-Changing Innovation in Surgical Instrument Sterilization Significantly Improves OR Throughput
A groundbreaking innovation enables hospitals to significantly improve instrument processing time and throughput in operating rooms (ORs) and sterile processing departments. Turbett Surgical, Inc.... Read moreHealth IT
view channel
Printable Molecule-Selective Nanoparticles Enable Mass Production of Wearable Biosensors
The future of medicine is likely to focus on the personalization of healthcare—understanding exactly what an individual requires and delivering the appropriate combination of nutrients, metabolites, and... Read more
Smartwatches Could Detect Congestive Heart Failure
Diagnosing congestive heart failure (CHF) typically requires expensive and time-consuming imaging techniques like echocardiography, also known as cardiac ultrasound. Previously, detecting CHF by analyzing... Read morePoint of Care
view channel
Handheld, Sound-Based Diagnostic System Delivers Bedside Blood Test Results in An Hour
Patients who go to a doctor for a blood test often have to contend with a needle and syringe, followed by a long wait—sometimes hours or even days—for lab results. Scientists have been working hard to... Read more
Smartphone-Enabled, Paper-Based Quantitative Diagnostic Platform Transforms POC Testing
Point-of-care diagnostics are crucial for public health, offering rapid, on-site testing that enables prompt diagnosis and treatment. This is especially valuable in remote or underserved regions where... Read moreBusiness
view channel
Becton Dickinson to Spin Out Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions Business
Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA), has announced that its board of directors has unanimously authorized BD management to pursue a plan to separate BD's Biosciences and Diagnostic... Read more