BMC soon to test patients for Covid-19 using voice samples

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is all set to test patients for COVID-19 using their sound waves. 

BMC from next week will start the non-invasive voice analysis of suspected and confirmed Covid-19 patients at the NESCO jumbo Covid-19 centre in Goregaon, Mumbai. 

The non-invasive voice analysis test will show results within 30 seconds. If the patient tests positive, he/she will have to take a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swab test to confirm if they are infected.

Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital run by the BMC, will conduct these tests on 2,000 patients at the centre using artificial intelligence. 

RT-PCR testing method takes more than eight hours. Whereas rapid antigen test can give results within 30 minutes, but this method can give a higher rate of false negatives according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Dr Neelam Andrade, dean of Nair Dental Hospital, who is in-charge of the NESCO facility, said that though the concept of diagnosing patients through their sound waves is new, several countries such as the United States of America and Israel are using it.

How does non-invasive voice analysis test works? 

There is a voice application which can be installed on phones or laptops. The suspected patient will be asked to count a few numbers before the device, similar to conducting a breath analyser test. The voice sample will automatically get synced with the main server of the provider. Then, through artificial intelligence, the result will be procured within 30 seconds. The app will analyse voices of three types of individuals — suspected, positive and negative patients. 

Cooper hospital, which has been given the responsibility of conducting the study, is yet to get the final nod from its ethical committee. “We are hoping to get it in a day or two,” said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner, BMC..