Biometric linkage of longitudinally collected electronic case report forms and confirmation of subject identity: an open framework for ODK and related tools
The availability of low-cost biometric hardware sensors and software makes it possible to rapidly, affordably and securely sample and store a unique and invariant biological signature (or biometric “template”) for the purposes of identification. This has applications in research and trials, particul...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Digital Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2023.1072331/full |
| _version_ | 1797754550681075712 |
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| author | Chrissy h. Roberts Callum Stott Marianne Shawe-Taylor Zain Chaudhry Sham Lal Michael Marks Michael Marks Michael Marks |
| author_facet | Chrissy h. Roberts Callum Stott Marianne Shawe-Taylor Zain Chaudhry Sham Lal Michael Marks Michael Marks Michael Marks |
| author_sort | Chrissy h. Roberts |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The availability of low-cost biometric hardware sensors and software makes it possible to rapidly, affordably and securely sample and store a unique and invariant biological signature (or biometric “template”) for the purposes of identification. This has applications in research and trials, particularly for purposes of consent, linkage of case reporting forms collected at different times, and in the confirmation of participant identity for purposes of safety monitoring and adherence to international data laws. More broadly, these methods are applicable to the needs of the billion people who live in resource-restricted settings without identification credentials. The use of mobile electronic data collection software has recently become commonplace in clinical trials, research and actions for public good. A raft of tools based on the open-source ODK project now provide diverse options for data management that work consistently in resource-restricted settings, but none have built-in functionality for capturing biometric templates. In this study, we report the development and validation of a novel open-source app and associated method for capturing and matching biometric fingerprint templates during data collection with the popular data platforms ODK, KoBoToolbox, SurveyCTO, Ona and CommCare. Using data from more than 1,000 fingers, we show that fingerprint templates can be used to link data records with high accuracy. The accuracy of this process increases through the linkage of multiple fingerprints to each data record. By focussing on publishing open-source code and documentation, and by using an affordable (<£50) and mass-produced model of fingerprint sensor, we are able to make this platform freely available to the large global user community that utilises ODK and related data collection systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:35:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0569832af1a4d2194f6311b239920d3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-253X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:35:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0569832af1a4d2194f6311b239920d32023-08-04T12:23:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Digital Health2673-253X2023-08-01510.3389/fdgth.2023.10723311072331Biometric linkage of longitudinally collected electronic case report forms and confirmation of subject identity: an open framework for ODK and related toolsChrissy h. Roberts0Callum Stott1Marianne Shawe-Taylor2Zain Chaudhry3Sham Lal4Michael Marks5Michael Marks6Michael Marks7Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United KingdomOPC Industries Ltd, Edinburgh, United KingdomHospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United KingdomHospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United KingdomFaculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United KingdomFaculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United KingdomHospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United KingdomDivision of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United KingdomThe availability of low-cost biometric hardware sensors and software makes it possible to rapidly, affordably and securely sample and store a unique and invariant biological signature (or biometric “template”) for the purposes of identification. This has applications in research and trials, particularly for purposes of consent, linkage of case reporting forms collected at different times, and in the confirmation of participant identity for purposes of safety monitoring and adherence to international data laws. More broadly, these methods are applicable to the needs of the billion people who live in resource-restricted settings without identification credentials. The use of mobile electronic data collection software has recently become commonplace in clinical trials, research and actions for public good. A raft of tools based on the open-source ODK project now provide diverse options for data management that work consistently in resource-restricted settings, but none have built-in functionality for capturing biometric templates. In this study, we report the development and validation of a novel open-source app and associated method for capturing and matching biometric fingerprint templates during data collection with the popular data platforms ODK, KoBoToolbox, SurveyCTO, Ona and CommCare. Using data from more than 1,000 fingers, we show that fingerprint templates can be used to link data records with high accuracy. The accuracy of this process increases through the linkage of multiple fingerprints to each data record. By focussing on publishing open-source code and documentation, and by using an affordable (<£50) and mass-produced model of fingerprint sensor, we are able to make this platform freely available to the large global user community that utilises ODK and related data collection systems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2023.1072331/fullfingerprintsbiometricsclinical trialspatient identificationelectronic data collectionKoBoToolbox |
| spellingShingle | Chrissy h. Roberts Callum Stott Marianne Shawe-Taylor Zain Chaudhry Sham Lal Michael Marks Michael Marks Michael Marks Biometric linkage of longitudinally collected electronic case report forms and confirmation of subject identity: an open framework for ODK and related tools Frontiers in Digital Health fingerprints biometrics clinical trials patient identification electronic data collection KoBoToolbox |
| title | Biometric linkage of longitudinally collected electronic case report forms and confirmation of subject identity: an open framework for ODK and related tools |
| title_full | Biometric linkage of longitudinally collected electronic case report forms and confirmation of subject identity: an open framework for ODK and related tools |
| title_fullStr | Biometric linkage of longitudinally collected electronic case report forms and confirmation of subject identity: an open framework for ODK and related tools |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biometric linkage of longitudinally collected electronic case report forms and confirmation of subject identity: an open framework for ODK and related tools |
| title_short | Biometric linkage of longitudinally collected electronic case report forms and confirmation of subject identity: an open framework for ODK and related tools |
| title_sort | biometric linkage of longitudinally collected electronic case report forms and confirmation of subject identity an open framework for odk and related tools |
| topic | fingerprints biometrics clinical trials patient identification electronic data collection KoBoToolbox |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2023.1072331/full |
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