This study, carried out by the research and innovation department, the territorial institute of biology and health and the INNOVABIO biological resource center of the CHU, in collaboration with the company Delivrone, aims to assess the feasibility, in real conditions , mode of transport by drone while making a comparison with the reference transport (pedestrian).
Two experiments (a 20-minute flight and a 40-minute flight) took place on the same day, each using the same methodology. After a blood sample was taken from around thirty volunteers, the samples were transported on foot to the site of the flight. Once on site, half of the samples (according to a random list predefined by the study methodologist) were transported by drone over a given time while the other was transported on foot over the same period.
The comparative analysis of the two families of samples will focus on the quality of a varied panel of medical biology examinations (biochemistry, hematology and hemostasis), on the safety of people (potentially infectious samples), on the control of the transport and on the transport temperature (15-25°C).
The flight is supervised by a remote pilot throughout the journey. The drone can fly at a distance of 120m high over 100km and at a maximum speed of 150 km/h in compliance with the clinical conditions required (temperature, specific packaging, confidentiality, etc.).
