A revolutionary new app utilizing artificial intelligence has the potential to save the Danish healthcare system billions of kroner during future pandemics. The app, developed by a team led by physician and researcher Eivind Segtnan from the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital, offers a more efficient method of handling tests by using group testing, also known as pooling. During the coronavirus pandemic, Denmark faced a huge burden on the healthcare system’s testing facilities, with costs reaching 17.8 billion kroner from the start of the pandemic in 2020 until the first quarter of 2022. The new app could change this by grouping tests, significantly reducing both time and costs.
The app works by first asking a series of questions to the user, similar to those seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, to assess the likelihood of infection. If a user is classified as low-risk, the app will automatically calculate which test group their sample should be part of. This method allows testing of multiple individuals simultaneously, thereby saving resources. According to the research behind the app, the use of group testing could save up to 2.9 billion kroner if all citizens are tested at a low infection level.
Troels Kristensen, associate professor and health economist at the Center for Health Economics Research (DaCHE) at the University of Southern Denmark, emphasizes the economic benefits of the new technology. He points out that the intelligent stratification of test groups can efficiently clear many more people compared to previous random methods. This technology not only has potential during pandemics but can also be used to monitor and manage other diseases, such as chlamydia, or track particularly vulnerable groups in society.
This can prevent infected individuals from going to work or visiting nursing homes, which can prevent further spread of diseases. This new app represents a significant advancement in the way the healthcare system can handle mass testing, with the potential to revolutionize responses to future health crises.