To the Editor—In December 2019, the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and has now spread worldwide.1 Currently, the diagnostic gold standard is the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). From the sensitivity perspective, sputum samples are preferable for examination.Reference Wang, Xu and Gao2 If acquiring a sputum sample is difficult, a healthcare worker (HCW) can collect sample from the nasopharynx.3 Getting a sample from the nasopharynx may carry a risk of the patient sneezing or coughing, and the HCW could be potentially exposed to the virus. Therefore, HCWs are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) for each examination and procedure. However, PPE is difficult to don and doff, and donning and doffing carries the risk of infection. Furthermore, if the demand for RT-PCR increases under conditions in which medical resources are scarce, it might be difficult to sample and test all specimens.
On March 14, 2020, we developed a protective box (product name, Star Ball Shield) to be used in patients with suspected COVID-19 during clinical examinations or performance of RT-PCR in collaboration with Star Ball Company, Kitakyushu City, Japan (Figure 1). The shield was made by processing waterproof cardboard and is collapsible and easy to carry.
Furthermore, the Star Ball Shield permits HCWs to run RT-PCR without the risk of exposure. This shield liberates the HCWs from the need to don and doff PPE for each clinical examination.
Once a patient’s examination has concluded, the HCW uses alcohol to wipe the surface of the box facing the patient and proceeds to examine the next patient. The Star Ball Shield is extremely helpful in the examination of patients with suspected COVID-19.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Star Ball Company for collaborating in the development of the Star Ball Shield and for providing it to our hospital.
Financial support
No financial support was provided relevant to this article.
Conflicts of interest
All authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to this article.