1 / 9Scientists have developed a low-cost and non-invasive method that can unerringly and swiftly detect COVID-19 with the help of the samples collected from the screens of smartphones.2 / 9Researchers from University College London (UCL) in the UK examined swabs from mobile phone screens instead of directly from people using the approach known as Phone Screen Testing (PoST).3 / 9They determined that people who tested COVID positive through regular nasal swabbing PCR tests were also positive for coronavirus when samples were collected from smartphone screens.4 / 9The new approach, described in the journal eLife on Tuesday, detected coronavirus on the mobile phones of 81% to 100% of contagious people with high viral load, implying it is as precise as antigen tests.5 / 9The researchers noted that globally active screening for COVID-19 is still a priority as new variants keep emerging and the vaccination rollout is not guaranteed in many countries.6 / 9However, testing is expensive and can be physically unpleasant, both of which are significant hurdles on the road to an effective test and trace system, they said.7 / 9As PoST is an environmental test, rather than a clinical test, it is both non-invasive and less expensive than traditional nasal swabbing PCR, according to the researchers.8 / 9This means that not only is it suitable for rollout in lower-income countries, but it also removes the discomfort of current COVID-19 testing options, potentially increasing take-up of regular testing among the general population, they explained.9 / 9