Daffodil International University
a.zafar@diu.edu.bd

How it Works?

Detect and Track COVID-19 – DIU’s AI Tool:

The Daffodil International University (DIU) and the public health officials in Bangladesh and globally are working together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Expanding access to reliable screening and diagnostic tool is critical to containment efforts.

DIU’s AI-based COVID-19 Program is a collaboration between Department of Public Health, Cardio Care General Hospital and the AI Unit which is offered free of cost to expand access to COVID-19 screening and testing to deal with high volume of COVID-19 suspects. However, we recommend that this service should not be used without appropriate consultation and/or medical care backup. Moreover, this tool is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

The COVID-19 Program is focused on:

  • Helping the hospitals the medical professionals working in the institutions to deal with COVID-19
  • Enabling the government public health officials to enhance and increase screening and testing efforts

Who's eligible to get screened for COVID-19 testing?

  • The government of Bangladesh and its public health institutions
  • Designated hospital working for COVID-19
  • A medical doctor based in an authorized health care setting
  • Willing to provide necessary information and sign COVID-19 authorization and consent form
  • Located in Bangladesh (or in one of the counties where COVID-19 testing is currently available)

What's involved?

  • Creating your account: We ask that you create an account or connect your computer to participate in this program.
  • Completing a COVID authorization form: To use our COVID-19 screening and testing tool, you will need to sign consent and authorization forms.
  • Verification of your information and status: The manager/webmaster will verify the information you provide
  • Approval for eligibility: Once verified, you will receive an unique “Log in” ID
  • Log in: If eligible, you can log in and use COVID-19 program. Based on the approval and on the accessibility, you will be able to use the tool.

How it works?

  • Authorized user can upload image in our website from anywhere in Bangladesh or abroad
  • If eligible, upload a digital image Chest X-ray or CT scan.
  • Once uploaded, the program will detect it if it is a valid chest X-ray or not. Any image other than a digital chest image (PAV) will be discarded.
  • If the image detected as "Chest X-ray", then the COVID-19 program will analyze it by using AI-based technique and give you a probability of that image whether it “COVID-19”, “Pneumonia” or “Normal”.
  • Within 2-5 second you will get the response with probability of COVID-19, Pneumonia and Normal
  • Additionally you can see COVID-19 updated news and status with some who recognized awareness.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ):

COVID-19 is an AI-based technology platform that supports public health providers and researchers to detect and track COVID-19 cases. This is a product of an on-going research program of Daffodil International University (DIU). This tool has been tested with WHO’s open source data and is compliant with the regulations governing the collection and use of data. Data is stored in advanced systems with security and privacy protocols.

This is an on-going research. All copyrights are reserved to the Department of Public Health, Daffodil International University.

We ask that you to register and sign a consent form before you participate in this program. This will enable us to verify your status and position, collect your data to the survey, contact you if necessary. Your data collected by DIU through this research program will be kept strictly confidential and stored with highest security, and will not be shared with a third party without your permission.

COVID-19 is a sensitive issue and regulated by the government’s regulation. This program is the first of its kind in Bangladesh and is still a part of on-going research. We also want to protect the COVID-19 Program from unscrupulous use and to ensure that this is used by an authorized health worker having proper backup support to the positive cases. DIU will also keep the record of screening results in case of verification is necessary. However, we are working to rapidly expand testing and will be updating the eligibility criteria once we further upgrade the tool and system.

Although this program is offered to the government of Bangladesh and registered doctors in Bangladesh, it can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

At the moment, detecting COVID-19 through the program is provided free of cost, as part of DIU’s corporate social responsibility (CSR). However, we expect judicial use of the testing tool due to sensitive information.

We are committed to maintaining high privacy standards and keeping your data safe under BD data privacy act. Our research project is regulated under the ethical standard of DIU in governing the collection and use of an individual’s data. Data will be used for research purposes ONLY.

The information you provide will be stored in a secure, encrypted database and in advanced systems with security and privacy protocols. The data will be accessible to DIU’s team who are authorized and directly linked to this research. The information you provide will NOT be shared with anyone without proper permission and scrutiny.