Cling film for mobile phones to prevent cross-infection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Technology challenge

Mobile phones have become an inseparable part of dermatology practice, and dermatologists use mobile phones in various ways while clinically examining patients. They are often used as a flashlight or a camera to take images of the lesions. In the COVID-19 pandemic era, mobile phones are more likely to be contaminated with the virus in health care settings, and they must be sanitized properly after use because they can be possible carriers of the virus. However, it is not practically feasible to sanitize mobile phones with alcohol-containing sanitizer or chlorine solutions because these chemical solutions may have ill effects on mobile phone screens.

Solution

Cling film roll can be a better solution for this challenge. These are thin, transparent plastic wraps with smooth surfaces, that can be used to wrap a mobile phone thoroughly before reaching the hospital (Fig 1 ). Because it is transparent, the plastic wrap gives a clear view of the mobile screen. We did not find a significant rise in temperature of the mobile phone or a marked change in the resolution of images taken with the mobile camera after applying the cling film (Fig 2 ). After use, the phone wrapped with cling film can be sanitized with alcohol-based sanitizer because it is waterproof. In the end, the film can be removed completely from the phone and discarded.

Fig 1

A mobile phone completely wrapped with cling film.

Fig 2

Temperature of a mobile phone wrapped with cling film (A) before and (B) after 6 hours of use. Resolution of an image taken with a mobile phone (C) without cling film and (D) with cling film.

At a time when there is intense focus on ways to prevent the spread of the disease, cling film is a plausible and cost-effective method for preventing cross-infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.