A portable screening system for onboard entry screening at international airports using a microwave radar, reflective photo sensor and thermography

We developed a portable screening system designed for onboard entry screening at international airports. The system can identify passengers who are potentially infected with epidemic diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or pandemic influenza. With its size being small enough to be placed on airplane tray tables, the system enables entry screening while passengers are onboard. In addition, this automatic system may greatly reduce time and effort required for screening. This system is operated by a real time screening program via a linear discriminant analysis using derived variables, i.e., palmar pulse obtained by a reflective photo sensor, respiration rate determined by a 10-GHz microwave radar, and facial temperature measured by thermography. As reported in our previous study, the system has a higher accuracy in detecting influenza by using facial temperature, heart rate and respiration rate, compared to conventional fever screening. In order to assess the efficacy of this screening system, we tested on three influenza patients (38.4°C ≤ body temperature ≤39.2°C, 22-34 years) and 52 healthy volunteers (35.9°C ≤ body temperature ≤ 37.0°C, 20 29 years). The results showed that sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) are both 100%. In order to reduce negative false passenger, sensitivity and NPV are the most important parameters for entry screening at the boarders. The specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) were 88% and 33% respectively. This portable system can be applied to future onboard entry screening to safeguard public health at the boarders.