In its June 2021 volume (4:686), the legend scientific periodic, Communications Biology issued by the globally renowned Nature Foundation, published a scientific paper on the success achieved by UAE in proving the excellence of K9 Unit in detecting the Covid-19 free individuals, which supports and complements the PCR testing technique.
In cooperation with the Higher College of Technology “HCT”, the Federal Customs Authority “FCA” succeeded last year end in achieving the first of its kind scientific paper in global arena on employing K9 dogs to detect those Covid-19 free persons through sniffing sweat to score 98.2% success ratio; a significant scientific achievement contributing to concrete nations and governments capabilities and enhance international endeavors to combat the virus.
According to “Nature”, the study incorporated a sample comprising (3290) individuals taken from those visiting Covid-19 testing centers where all of them were subject to the traditional PCR test then they were asked to voluntarily donate sweat samples following their written consent. All samples were complied and collated to sweat samples from under the armpit to verify how accurate the results of K9 dogs are.
The study concluded that the results achieved by K9 dogs scored (98.2%) in detecting virus free individuals, such score indicates the high accuracy in identifying and detecting Covid-19 free individuals. Negative predictive value (NPV) of the trained K9 based examination represents a robust indicator of the high benefit of employing such examination to detect the virus free individuals.
Serving Humanity
On his part, H.E Ali Saeed Matar Alneyadi, Commissioner of Customs – Chairman of FCA, highlighted that publishing such scientific paper on detecting Covid-19 in such specialized international magazine crystallizes the keenness of the prudent leadership and UAE to save no effort and make use of all available potentials and capabilities to serve humanity while bolstering world efforts to tackle emergencies, crisis and natural disasters, stemming from the value and principles of the Union Nation.
H.E said publishing the study in Communications Biology periodic, issued by Nature Foundation reflects the international recognition of UAE research capabilities and the value of its scientific institutions. H.E underscored that Authority’s cooperation with HTC in conducting the study stands a role model of cooperation between State executive institutions and education and research bodies. He added that such cooperation and expanding its horizon can put in place easy solutions with lower cost for numerous challenges encountered by humanity and he applauded the level of the cooperation demonstrated by HTC under the leadership of Dr. Abdul Latif Alshamsi to conduct the study.
H.E appraised the role and efforts of FCA K9 Unit team led by Abdul Salam Alshamsi, Unit Head, supervisors and specialists and their collaboration with HTC team to bring remarkable success to such scientific achievement.
Effective Partnership
From his side, H.E Dr. Abdul Latif Alshamsi congratulated HTC Director, the joint scientific team between FCA and HTC based on the scientific paper, the team comprises researchers and specialized personnel led by Professor Mohammed Haj Ali for their accomplishment in submitting the first integrated scientific paper attracting global interest and publication.
He added that HTC is significantly interested, from strategic perspective, in applied studies and researches for which the College is featured as education and application institution and position it to contribute to finding innovative solutions to issues and challenges encountered by society under effective partnership with the bodies concerned with handling such challenges, and that such paper emphasizes and supports such interests, especially its role in enabling the country protect its ports in reliance on sniffing, such a high sensitive sense, dispatch inspection, easy implementation in addition to low risk of contracting the virus during sample collection process.
Time and Efforts Saved
H.E Ahmad Abdulla Bin Lahej Alfalasi, Director General of FCA, said employing K9 dogs’ sniffing approach in detecting Covid-19 free individuals will save time and efforts and hence, gives the opportunity to governments to address the consequences of the pandemic and diminish its impacts on economic growth ratios and swift restoration of economic institutions activity.
H.E highlighted FCA’s devotion to cooperate and coordinate with local and world bodies to employ customs sector’s potentials to confront emergencies and crisis while promoting society members luxury and wellbeing. He pointed out that partnership with research institutions and private sector represents a strategic pillar for the Authority to reinforce its security, economic and social role and support State’s competitiveness and its exhaustive development trajectory.
To look at the study published by Nature Foundation, kindly visit the link below:
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