Positive Pressure Testing Booths Development and Deployment In Response To The COVID-19 Outbreak

TL;DR

This paper introduces a low-cost, mobile, positive-pressure COVID-19 testing booth designed for safe, accessible, and widespread use, reducing PPE use and infection risk during the pandemic.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel, affordable, and easily deployable positive-pressure testing booth using off-the-shelf components, enabling broader community testing during COVID-19.

Findings

Prototype passed pressure and air exchange tests.

Reviewed positively by healthcare professionals.

Currently deployed at multiple health facilities.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic left an unprecedented impact on the general public health, resulting in thousands of deaths in the US alone. Nationwide testing plans were initiated to control the spread, with drive-through being the currently dominant testing approach, which, however, exhausts personal protective equipment supplies, and is unfriendly to individuals not owning a vehicle. Walk-up testing booths are a safe alternative, but are too prohibitively priced on the market to allow for nationwide deployment. In this paper, we present an accessible, mobile, affordable, and safe version of a positive-pressure COVID-19 testing booth. The booths are manufactured using primarily off-the-shelf components from US vendors with minimized customization. The booths' mobility allows them to be easily transported within local communities to test a larger subset of the population with fewer transportation options. Moreover, the final bill of materials does not surpass USD 3,900, which is about half of the market price. The booths are air conditioned and HEPA filtered to offer healthcare providers a safe and comfortable working environment. The prototype passed required pressure and air exchange tests, and was positively reviewed by two healthcare professionals. Currently, five booths are deployed and used at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore City Health Department, and two community health centers in Baltimore. Our design facilitates walk-up testing in the US, as it decreases PPE consumption; reduces the risk of infection; and is accessible to lower-income communities and non-drivers.