Prof. Riyanarto Sarno Develops i-nose c-19, Covid-19 Detector through Underarm Sweat Odor

Professor of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Prof. Drs Ec Ir Riyanarto Sarno MSc PhD developed an innovative Covid-19 detection tool through the odor of underarm sweat called i-nose c-19. The technological innovation that has gone through stage one clinical trials was presented in front of the Deputy Governor of East Java, Emil Elestianto Dardak, at his official residence, Saturday (16/1) afternoon.

This artificial intelligence-based software development team is led directly by a professor from the ITS Informatics Engineering Department and involves students from master and doctoral levels.

The i-nose c-19 is the world’s first Covid-19 screening tool to detect axillary sweat odor . i-nose c-19 works by taking a sample of the odor of someone’s underarm sweat and processing it using artificial intelligence (AI). “Underarm sweat is non-infectious , which means that the waste and exhaust air of the i-nose c-19 does not contain the Covid-19 virus,” he said.

Also, he continued, this tool has several advantages compared to other Covid-19 screening technologies . Sampling and processing are in one tool, so one can immediately see the screening results on the i-nose c-19. This of course guarantees a faster process. “The i-nose c-19 is also equipped with a near-field communication (NFC) feature , so filling in data is sufficient by attaching the e-KTP to this Covid-19 fast detection tool,” he explained.

Furthermore, Ryan explained that the data in the i-nose c-19 is guaranteed reliable because it is stored in the device or the cloud . The use of cloud computing to support the i-nose c-19 can be integrated with the public, patients, doctors, hospitals, and laboratories. “With various existing advantages, the i-nose c-19, the work of the nation’s children, is here to answer the challenges of the uncontrolled Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

Not only be guaranteed in terms of costs because it uses cheap technological components but also the i-nose c-19 does not require special expertise in its implementation. ” This scanner can be done by everyone with a simpler safety device, such as only gloves and masks as basic protection,” he said.

Ryan revealed, the i-nose c-19 was the result of a four-year study which was then optimized by adjusting the Covid-19 virus since last March 2019. Currently, the i-nose c-19 has reached phase one clinical trials. “In the future, the sampling data will be improved for distribution permits and can be commercialized to the public,” said the ITS Informatics Engineering lecturer.

Ryan hopes that fortunately the i-nose c-19 can be commercialized in a maximum of three months. “Seeing the increasing spread of the Covid-19 virus, the world needs a lot of screening technologies that are easy and fast to implement,” he concluded.

Responding to the innovation introduced by ITS, the Deputy Governor of East Java said that ITS had coordinated a lot with the East Java Provincial Government (Pemprov Jatim) in developing artificial intelligence-based software, one of which is the i-nose c-19. “Of course we, the East Java Provincial Government, are very grateful and ready to work together in supporting the development of this i-nose c-19 innovation,” Emil said after getting an explanation.

Furthermore, this number two person in East Java said that the ITS discovery was a new breakthrough, where many lights and sound-based Covid-19 detectors had been found. “In fact, odor-based can also be replicated by electronics, which can be found in the i-nose c-19,” he said.

Previously, Deputy Chancellor IV Bambang Pramujati ST MScEng PhD who also accompanied him revealed that the idea initiated by the ITS research team was a continuation of ITS contributions in the current Covid-19 pandemic era. Later, after going through a series of trials and increasing samples, it is hoped that it can accelerate the process of detecting people who are suspected of having the Covid-19 virus or not.

“With this innovation from ITS, we (ITS) also asks for support from the East Java Provincial Government to be able to jointly introduce and develop this discovery further,” said Bambang.