Chongqing- More than 30 new nucleic acid sampling locations, including COVID testing mobile cabins, were added in May in the Western (Chongqing) Science City to reduce the gathering of people in a short period, where citizens only need to walk for no more than 15 minutes and wait in line for no more than 20 minutes.

Nucleic acid detection is the gold standard for diagnosing new coronavirus infections. The cabins create a comfortable and safe environment for medical workers, help reduce the risk of infections, and greatly improve service efficiency.

Nucleic Acid Sampling Cabin

What's inside those convenient nucleic acid sampling cabins?

Despite its small area, the cabin is equipped with air conditioners, ultraviolet disinfection lamps, walkie-talkies, and other equipment, full of complete and effective functions.

This not only minimizes the direct contact of medical staff and the risk of infection but also improves the comfort and safety of their work and reduces some adverse effects of bad weather on nucleic acid sampling. For example, higher storage temperatures will lower the probability of detecting viral nucleic acids because of degradation. 

"After the convenient nucleic acid sampling cabin is put into use, it is not only convenient for the citizens but also us," said Cheng Lin at Jinfeng Town Health Center. "It is always unbearably hot to wear protective clothing to collect samples."

She continued, "now that the cabin is air-conditioned, we only need to work with first-level protection, and our hands can work more efficiently, which is really good. "

"This sampling point is just outside my company, so it's very convenient to walk there in a minute or two," said Mr. Yang, who came to do nucleic acid testing.

"We will set up a nucleic acid 'sampling circle' with a 15-minute walk for every 3,000 people or so," said a competent official from the Public Service Bureau of Chongqing High-tech Zone. "Especially, those 'sampling circles' will be set up near transportation stations, farmers' markets, grocery stores, and other key crowd gathering places, as well as qualified community health service institutions."

Fitting in multiple scenarios

In addition, in order to better help the Science City establish a 15-minute nucleic acid "sampling circle," a Chongqing company participated in the construction of a newly nucleic acid sampling infrastructure.

The nucleic acid sampling chambers produced by Chongqing Molecular Water System Co., Ltd. can be used to meet the needs of multiple scenarios such as hospitals, ports, stations, airports, logistics parks, and so on. They are planning to launch a three-person cabin to facilitate the functional needs in more scenarios at a later stage.

The company has applied for five patents for nucleic acid sampling chambers. In order to protect the safety of the sampling nurses, this chamber was designed using the principle of physical isolation.

The positive pressure of the atmospheric pressure above 20Pa is maintained in the sampling chamber to avoid the infection of nurses by the air in the environment. The air entering the chamber is filtered with medium and high efficiency, and particles and bacteria are intercepted by filtration.

At the same time, the sampling nurses will use special latex gloves to ensure their safety. Due to the presence of heating and cooling air conditioners, whether it is hot or cold, the environment for nurses to sample will be more comfortable.

"When the nucleic acid sampling chambers will be withdrawn from the stage of history, this kind of room can also be used for other purposes through modification, such as changing into a security room," said Ma Bing, general manager of Chongqing Molecular Water System Co., Ltd.