Siemens and Auto-Info roll out flagship test tab for COVID-19 detection

The mobile lab is an ideal solution for borders, airports and hospitals to detect COVID-19 infections

The mobile lab structure and system have been designed to avoid contamination among patients or from patients to medical staff by using the Climatix IC platform, a flexible and scalable advanced HVAC control solution from Siemens.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on healthcare systems globally, including the availability of rapid and accurate testing.

The mobile lab is an ideal solution for borders, airports, and hospitals – all important checkpoints to detect infections with the virus. It makes it easy to implement the best medical precautionary measures to provide highly effective, flexible, and standard testing labs, meeting the public’s requirements for safe and fast testing.

“With Auto-Info, we moved fast to create an easy-to-install test lab that supports urgent medical needs during the pandemic in a safe and compact environment,” said Henning Sandfort, CEO of Building Products at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “Air quality is an important factor to reduce the potential airborne transmission of the virus in indoor spaces. Our technology ensures this quality is kept under control.”

To ensure adequate air ventilation in mobile units, Siemens supplied the lab with its Climatix IC technology, which controls humidity, pressure, temperature, and air quality.

Specific algorithms have been programmed to cater to use cases in the field, to prevent any unintended contamination and exposure to the healthcare professionals in the mobile unit. In addition, a three-filter system provides additional safeguards against virus infiltration.

Auto-Info, a Thai automation specialist in the life science industry, combined its pharmaceutical as well as biotechnological expertise with automation technology to develop the modular examination units.

They comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US for design standards, ISO 14644-3, and other healthcare standards for testing. In addition, the mobile structure is built from robust and durable materials that can be operated anywhere once plugged into the electricity grid.

One of the major benefits of the solution developed by Siemens and Auto-Info is the speed and ease of commissioning. The modular systems with precise dimensions of 3x6x3m can be assembled in one month, faster than any other systems available on the market. This solution will initially be delivered to healthcare and industrial customers in Thailand, with the aim of expanding into Southeast Asia.