Emerging Technologies and Sensors That Can Be Used During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The spread of COVID-19, which has infected over 10 million people worldwide, entails the need for fast and aggressive testing never like before. As countries look to expanding testing, such test solutions must not only be technically sound, but should also be feasible and convenient for the user. The aim of this paper is to review the emerging tests and technology which can be potentially used to detect and assess the condition of those infected with the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the challenges in their development and use. The paper deals with 1) In vitro diagnostic tests(IVDs),i.e tests that use biological samples like blood and consist of 2 types: nucleic acid tests, which detect the RNA of the virus, and antibody tests which antibodies created by the body in response to the virus. 2) Chest X-Ray and CT scan devices, associated Deep Learning based detection methods and portable devices. 3) Wearable sensors, IoT and telemedicine for remote monitoring of COVID-19 patients to assess their condition, and also of Non-COVID-19 ones to reduce risks of cross-infection.