Pakistani doctor develops smartphone-based Covid-19 test
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani doctor based in Toronto has introduced an instant Covid-19 diagnostic test using a smartphone.
Pakistan High Commissioner to Canada Raza Bashir Tarar has congratulated Dr Naqeeb Khalid for his extraordinary achievement.
In a video conversation with Dr Naqeeb Khalid who led the development of smartphone-based diagnostic test for Covid-19 as Director of Medical Device Programme at the Montreal-based Two-Photon Research Inc., the high commissioner said the idea of the Covid test being displayed and communicated by the smartphone was novel and laudable.
He expressed the hope that such a quick, hassle-free, accessible and affordable invention would be of immense help to the humanity in overcoming the current pandemic and fighting viruses causing tropical diseases such as dengue etc.
The high commissioner said that clinical trials of the innovation would prove its efficacy for the Covid-19 test and pave the way for necessary approvals before being put to use at the mass level.
He conveyed his best wishes to Dr Naqeeb Khalid and his brother Najeeb Khalid who collaborated with him due to his background in a broad range of engineering and science disciplines.
Dr Naqeeb Khalid, who graduated from King Edward Medical University in 1983, before acquiring experience in invention of medical devices and systems, told the high commissioner that his innovation was based on a digital platform that displayed the result instantly on any smartphone and can also communicate or store the results along with time and GPS information.
A smartphone App will be available for download from the AppStore. “Instant, accurate and low-cost testing that does not rely on laboratory testing is essential in containing the pandemic and together with vaccines, we can control the Covid-19 outbreak and return our lives and economies to normal,” said Najeeb Khalid.
Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2020
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Comments (64) Closed
Dec 14, 2020 10:00am
Another hype and IKN as usual will make hollow statement.
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Dec 14, 2020 10:14am
When the world has moved on to bigger things like vaccination, we see here people still developing tests. Anyway congrats.
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Dec 14, 2020 10:23am
@Arora, any invention by you?mr Arora?
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Dec 14, 2020 10:29am
@Arora, usual sense of superiority by an Indian
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Dec 14, 2020 10:31am
Achievement of IK.
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Dec 14, 2020 10:33am
Well done
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Dec 14, 2020 10:37am
Good going, but these already exist in Australia and NZ. Nothing new about it except it was developed by a Pakistani
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Dec 14, 2020 11:03am
It is always good to read about people and their success. Pls note he is not in pakistan and might be canada PR/citizen
When we create opportunity at home , nation will grow automatically. Leaders need to give confidence and recognition people will do rest
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Dec 14, 2020 11:05am
Welldone
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Dec 14, 2020 11:06am
@Arora, I would suggest you go and check how many days it would take for the vaccination to be effectively used globally and how the test can help in detecting Covid. I would also recommend you read the article again, from article: "He expressed the hope that such a quick, hassle-free, accessible and affordable invention would be of immense help to the humanity in overcoming the current pandemic and fighting viruses causing tropical diseases such as dengue etc."
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Dec 14, 2020 11:29am
Unless I missed something in this article, there was no info on how the diagnostics are done. How is the sample collected? I hope this is not one of those questionnaire based results that apple came with months ago.
Without any details, lets pray this is not another pani wali car!
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Dec 14, 2020 11:31am
This is a headline in dawn and then should big innovation.
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Dec 14, 2020 11:40am
And how is that possible !? Can you elaborate??
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Dec 14, 2020 12:12pm
@HKG, Always negative comments, shows your state of mind
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Dec 14, 2020 12:20pm
Great !!!
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Dec 14, 2020 12:39pm
Congratulations for developing such a high tech app. Pakistani High commissioner should convince to Dr. to give up his Canadian nationality and come back back to Pakistan and do his scientific research in Pakistan under the unmberalla of IK Gov so no more brain will drain from Pakistan .
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Dec 14, 2020 12:45pm
Excellent breakthrough. Good luck with validation and regulatory approval.
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Dec 14, 2020 12:50pm
This has been done in June-July,We have seen many trackers,contact tracings & Diagnostics Apps...We have everything to encash in the name of Covid 19. ....2021 is time for Vaccinations
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Dec 14, 2020 01:12pm
The article clearly states that the doctor resides in Canada. So can't understand why Pakistan is thumping its chest?? The main question is,how many such tests have been developed by Pakistani people who live in Pakistan????
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Dec 14, 2020 01:17pm
Brilliant
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Dec 14, 2020 01:26pm
Congratulations to Pakistani born Canadian doctor. The nation is ever indebted to such noble and brilliant souls. Now don't have to stand in the line for COVID-19 testing, all can test from the comforts of their phones.
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Dec 14, 2020 01:33pm
@owais hasan, such self Daignostics testing apps were launched by all major Indian clinics way back in April/may... example - Apollo clinic app
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Dec 14, 2020 01:52pm
I'm an Indian and inventor myself, got 3 patencies, I can say this app is over hyped.
This App doesn't diagnose anything, it only reads the results. Any Pakistani software engineer in Pakistan can write this kind of app in a week.
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Dec 14, 2020 01:58pm
It can't be relied. You need physical samples to test physically to get confirmation. Will be a total failure.
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Dec 14, 2020 02:01pm
Salute to the fertile land of four seasons and productive soil of 225 million talented, innovative, gifted, proficient, skillful, hardworking, smart, wizard, brilliant, competent, capable and top-notch people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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Dec 14, 2020 02:05pm
We need vaccination not apps.
Far behind as usual.
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Dec 14, 2020 02:09pm
No details about what kind of test you can done using this smartphone. At the end it will be revealed that it just shows your heart rate, Blood pressure, glucose and found out that a smart watch technology is mixed up with smart phone. stealing job.
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Dec 14, 2020 02:11pm
Already such tests came out in August 2020. Just google it.
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Dec 14, 2020 02:11pm
Similar tests were out wayback in August 2020. Google it.
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Dec 14, 2020 02:33pm
Any effort made towards serving the humanity needs nothing but lot of appreciations.
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Dec 14, 2020 02:41pm
@Arora, the testing still needs to be done and alot of companies are still looking to cut the turnaround time of tests, which will bring life back to normal as people can be screened quickly and efficiently. You're clearly a very pessimistic sort of individual and possibly from the same organisation which has recently been exposed by EU. Good luck we know you lot well.
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Dec 14, 2020 02:45pm
Another Poor reporting, where reporter mentioned all about what High Commissioner said or where the Doc graduated from and no mention of how the phone based test work, how authentic it is and if it is approved to use ?
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Dec 14, 2020 02:55pm
Too little too late
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Dec 14, 2020 02:59pm
Nothing new here. These types of apps have been around for ages
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Dec 14, 2020 03:01pm
Excellent work Doc.
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Dec 14, 2020 03:04pm
@Love , what is your achievement ? any ? or just a keyboard warrior ?
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Dec 14, 2020 03:20pm
Noble prize is due
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Dec 14, 2020 03:31pm
Imran khan should keep this technology secret
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Dec 14, 2020 03:42pm
Grate work & well done, keep it up innovative invention for mankind.
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Dec 14, 2020 04:17pm
@Stargazer,
"usual sense of superiority by an Indian"
Actually it's the exact opposite, it's an inferiority complex. Their own incompetence and mismanagement has led to their country being a global Covid epicentre, so they need to lash out at a smaller neighbour that is having much more success. It's actually very flattering...
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Dec 14, 2020 04:18pm
Total Bakwas
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Dec 14, 2020 04:33pm
I find the claims made by the doctor to be questionable unless more details are provided. How does a digital platform detects a biological specie like a virus? One way is for the doctor to have developed a lab-on-chip system that plugs into a user mobile phone. The user fills the chip with blood or saliva that is detected by an optical tag or field effect mechanism.
Other option is to listen to breathing of users and search for unusual pattern. Unless more information is provided - hard to ...
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Dec 14, 2020 04:37pm
Stop hating and live peacefully
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Dec 14, 2020 04:40pm
The news does not give any details as to how it works...inculclusive information wonder what it would lead to...no idea...
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Dec 14, 2020 04:55pm
Congradulation.
Outstanding work.
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Dec 14, 2020 04:58pm
Outstanding work
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Dec 14, 2020 05:07pm
@Arora, when did the world stop testing for COVID? Please update everyone!
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Dec 14, 2020 05:12pm
Great job
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Dec 14, 2020 05:13pm
Well done
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Dec 14, 2020 05:20pm
This is not a path breaking invention. Other countries had also developed similar App. Bangalore based Indian startup firm developed mobile based Covid-19 test App in July 2020. These are basically symptoms based detention Apps. So authorities world over are not enthusiastic about it. Even Rapid Antigen laboratory test is not giving foolproof results. That is why governments all over the world depend on PCR test. Costly, but golden standard in Covid-19 testing.
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Dec 14, 2020 05:35pm
Nothing beats the water car, the prime glory of pakistani inventions
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Dec 14, 2020 05:52pm
That's good news.. But they should look forward to more improvisation of science & technology as they can make & develop their own vaccine...
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Dec 14, 2020 05:54pm
@Stargazer, Basically Indians are really much more superior in Science and technology as NASA has almost 40% scientist of Indian origin ...
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Dec 14, 2020 11:56pm
@HKG, Keep worshipping your false leader Nawaz and Modi
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Dec 15, 2020 03:04am
What’s the story about several such apps are already up and running?
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Dec 15, 2020 09:35am
We congratulate to Dr.Naqeeb Khalid as well his brother for invention who raised Pakistani flag high. ( Texas)
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Dec 15, 2020 01:45pm
@owais hasan, : Yes, he invented you.
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Dec 15, 2020 02:50pm
@owais hasan, Many in India, even including smart phone.
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Dec 15, 2020 02:53pm
@Niraj , Before Apollo Clinic App, some one from Tamil Nadu has developed the similar one. I forgot his name. He is an IIT student.
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Dec 15, 2020 04:13pm
its old already some countries developed it
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Dec 15, 2020 04:24pm
Don't understand how smartphones will conduct biological test
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Dec 15, 2020 06:47pm
Congratulated to Dr Naqeeb Khalid for his extraordinary achievement. But calling him Pakistani is like saying Indian is going to be sworn in as Vice President of USA.
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Dec 15, 2020 08:34pm
IK should invite him to Pakistan and share his expertise with China and Turkey.
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Dec 15, 2020 08:38pm
Something is better than nothing!
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