CORONAVIRUS | Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has clarified that an innovation promoted by its research team as a "self-diagnosing Covid-19 application" is still in the initial development and testing stage.
UPM deputy vice-chancellor Zulkifli Idrus said information about the application was initially shared in an April 7 infographic by UPM's Putra Science Park that highlighted 10 innovations to fight the war against Covid-19.
"However, certain innovations and initiatives listed on the infographic are still in the initial development and testing stage," Zulkilfi said in a statement, adding that the completed projects have been distributed to stakeholders including frontliners.
"This research is still in the initial development and testing and requires verification using clinical data.
"It utilises digital biomarker data processed using Artificial Intelligence algorithm," he explained.
Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad, who shared the initial infographic and congratulated UPM for its successes, has since removed the specific slide which referred to the Artificial Intelligence-based mobile application.
"However, certain innovations and initiatives listed on the infographic are still in the initial development and testing stage," Zulkilfi said in a statement, adding that the completed projects have been distributed to stakeholders including frontliners.
"This research is still in the initial development and testing and requires verification using clinical data.
"It utilises digital biomarker data processed using Artificial Intelligence algorithm," he explained.
Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad, who shared the initial infographic and congratulated UPM for its successes, has since removed the specific slide which referred to the Artificial Intelligence-based mobile application.
According to the initial post, a user is only required to download the application, take a selfie and obtain instant results.
Zulkifli further clarified that the application was not designed as a replacement for the RT-PCR method (swab test) or rapid tests - the two main testing methods for Covid-19 infections.
"The application is developed for early health monitoring purposes and not as a diagnostic tool.
"There is also a mistake in the name of the application, which had led to confusion," he said.
"The application was not supposed to be announced yet.
"Therefore we at UPM would like to apologise for the unintended confusion," he said.
The initial announcement drew flak from medical experts including Selangor Covid-19 task force member Dr Christopher Lee who expressed his disbelief.
"Oh dear, selfie to diagnose Covid-19? Wow!
"Why are we then harping on our labs to ramp up testing? Our poor lab colleagues are already so overwhelmed," he said on Twitter.
Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah previously said that laboratories across Malaysia can now test up to 11,546 samples per day for Covid-19. - Mkini
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