UPDATED: LASU develops mobile app for ‘COVID-19 self-test’

The Department of Computer Science, Lagos State University (LASU) has developed a mobile app named ‘LASU COVID-19 Test’ that will enable individuals do a self-test for COVID-19. The Coordinator, Centre for Information Press and Public Relations (CIPPR) at LASU, Ademola Adekoya, in a statement on Tuesday, said the innovation was led by Professor Benjamin Aribisala […]

The Department of Computer Science, Lagos State University (LASU) has developed a mobile app named ‘LASU COVID-19 Test’ that will enable individuals do a self-test for COVID-19.

The Coordinator, Centre for Information Press and Public Relations (CIPPR) at LASU, Ademola Adekoya, in a statement on Tuesday, said the innovation was led by Professor Benjamin Aribisala alongside other team members namely: Dr. Oluwatoyin Enikuomehin, Mr. Olusola Olabanjo, Abdulazeez Saheed and Dr. Abdulazeez Anjorin of Microbiology Department.

According to him, the App will be available on Google PlayStore from Tuesday, April 7, 2020.

He further disclosed that the software has been tested and certified by the Provost, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja.

Explaining how the App works, the Professor of Computer Science, Benjamin Aribisala, described the mobile App as a self-test application that does not replace medical consultation.

He noted that it is a simple application that requires an individual to answer some questions without supplying any test sample.

“The symptoms of COVID-19 from WHO include: cough, difficulty in breathing and recent visit to any country with high rate of the virus.

“These are the things we combined to build the App and our target is not to make it replace medical consultation but rather to create awareness in people.

“That is why in the App, we do not conclude whether a user has COVID-19 or not, we only recommend that anyone with any of the symptoms should see a doctor. It is a very simple and interactive App that provides guide for individuals,” Prof. Aribisala said.

He said the App has been submitted to Google PlayStore, adding that approval will take seven days because of the government’s ‘work from home’ order.

Our reporter however noted that the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are yet to approve the use of the mobile app for self-test.