Our institution, in order to meet the rapid nucleic acid testing report needs of international travelers, has collaborated with Brain Navi Biotechnology Co., Ltd. to jointly develop the "Emergency Nucleic Acid Testing" service, combined with the "Zero-contact Epidemic Prevention Sampling Station" (Figure 1), to provide the general public or suspected COVID-19 cases with the fastest optimized sampling process. The design of the sampling station is aimed at protecting medical personnel from infection and reducing the need for medical staff, resulting in our institution's "one-stop sampling process."

This process has four main features:

1. Rapid Report Delivery: Our institution's "one-stop sampling process" combines information automation integration and the "Emergency Nucleic Acid Testing" service, allowing individuals to obtain a paper copy of their nucleic acid test report within 1 hour. On the same day, they can also check the electronic report online (only available for nationals). Applicants can apply online, sign the sampling consent form online, make payments online, and check reports online without the need for additional administrative assistance, completing the sampling process seamlessly.

2. Efficient Healthcare Workforce: The traditional sampling process requires at least 3 administrative personnel and 3 medical personnel (one for registration, one for data verification, one nurse, one sampling physician, one courier, and one medical technologist). Compared to our institution's "one-stop sampling process," which utilizes information automation, it completely eliminates the need for administrative personnel. Sampling and nucleic acid testing can be completed on-site at the sampling station, reducing the need for couriers and medical technologists. Only one sampling physician (or nurse) and one nurse are required to perform on-site testing, completing the process in 20 minutes.

3. High Safety Standards: Our institution's "Zero-contact Epidemic Prevention Sampling Station" features negative-pressure sampling chambers (Figure 2), with the entire room being ventilated every 60 seconds. After each sampling session, ultraviolet (UVC) disinfection and sterilization (Figure 3) are performed, along with HEPA high-efficiency filtration systems that purify and release air. At the end of each day's sampling, the sampling chamber is cleaned using diluted bleach and alcohol. Entry and exit to the sampling chamber are contactless with sensor-activated doorbells (Figure 4), ensuring 100% zero contact throughout the sampling process.

4. High Privacy Standards: Our institution's "Zero-contact Epidemic Prevention Sampling Station" is a separate sampling space where individuals, once inside the sampling chamber, cannot be observed from the outside. Sampling is done by appointment, so individuals do not need to wait in queues.

figure1. Zero-contact Epidemic Prevention Sampling Station

figure2. Negative Pressure Sampling Booth Ventilation Design

figure3. Ultraviolet (UVC) Disinfection and Sterilization

figure4. Sensor-activated Doorbell

Our institution's "Zero-contact Epidemic Prevention Sampling Station" collaborates with the company Brain Navi Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Dr. Chen Jie-Xiao, CEO of Brain Navi Biotech, leads this collaboration. Dr. Chen Jie-Xiao is also the Director of the Urology Department at our institution's affiliated hospital, Beigang Hospital. Under his leadership, the team has achieved several medical technology awards and innovation awards. Additionally, the "Automatic Nasopharyngeal Sampling Robot," developed in collaboration between our institution and the Brain Navi team, received a National Innovation Award in 2021.

The "Zero-contact Epidemic Prevention Sampling Station" at our institution is designed with three major features:

1. Full Zero-contact" Design: The entrances and exits of the sampling room are equipped with sensor-activated doorbells, ensuring that individuals undergoing sampling do not come into contact with the door panels. The door panels are designed as automatic doors that open and close automatically. The control room of the sampling station features a microcomputer environmental control system that can automatically adjust the positive and negative pressure systems between the control room and the sampling room. It is also equipped with HEPA high-efficiency air particle filtration. After sampling, healthcare personnel can use the control room's system to activate the UV-C ultraviolet disinfection system, allowing cleaning personnel to enter for secondary cleaning using alcohol and bleach in a safer environment. This "full zero-contact" approach ensures the safety of all healthcare staff throughout the process.

2. "Integrated Glass Partitions": The design of the sampling station completely separates the control room from the sampling room and allows for sample collection using "sampling robots" or "artificial gloves." This design not only reduces the potential for cross-infection but also lightens the protective equipment worn by healthcare personnel. Separate pathways are designed so that individuals entering and exiting do not come into contact with healthcare staff.

3. "Modular Container Design": The flexible modular design allows for the adjustment of the intended use of each compartment based on actual needs. For example, the sampling room can be adapted into an interview room or a negative-pressure ward, among other purposes. In the future, it can be used not only for COVID-19 but also for preventing other contact or droplet-transmitted diseases.

figure5. Sampling Station Floor Plan

Our institution's "Zero-contact Epidemic Prevention Sampling Station" utilizes the Cobas Liat instrument for testing, with a testing time of approximately 20 minutes. Upon completion of the test, the results are immediately recorded into our institution's SQL Server database. Every 5 minutes, the data is transferred into our institution's Laboratory Information System (LIS), which supports the issuance of paper reports in real-time at our institution's emergency department billing counter (Figure 6).

figure6. System Architecture Diagram