Use of iris scanning as a method of biometric recognition of healthy adults participating in an Ebola vaccine trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Preprint)

BACKGROUND As part of an Ebola outbreak preparedness initiative, a partnership between the University of Antwerp and the University of Kinshasa, through an Innovative Medicines Initiative-European Union (project ‘EBOVAC 3’), implemented a clinical trial on an Ebola vaccine regimen to be administered to health care provider participants (HCP-P) in Tshuapa Province (Democratic Republic of the Congo). The EBOVAC3 clinical trial used iris scan technology to identify all HCP-P participating in the vaccine trial so the right participant received the right vaccine at the right visit. OBJECTIVE To assess the acceptability, accuracy and feasibility of iris scan technology as an identification method within a population of HCP-P in a vaccine trial in a remote setting. METHODS A mixed-method study was utilized. The acceptability was assessed prior to the trial through 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) and assessed at enrolment. Feasibility and accuracy research was conducted using a longitudinal trial study design where iris scanning was compared to the unique study ID card to identify HCP-P at enrolment, and at their follow-up visits. RESULTS During the FGDs, main concerns raised by HCP-P about the iris scan technology were that it may cause physical problems to their eyes or expose them to spiritual problems through sorcery. Though, 99.1% (95%CI: 97.1;100.0) of HCP-P in the FGDs agreed to be identified by the iris scan. Also, at enrolment 99.0% (95%CI:98.3; 99.7) HCP-P accepted to be identified by iris scan. Iris scan technology correctly identified 93.1% (95%CI:91.2; 95.0) of the participants returning for scheduled follow-up visits. Iris scanning operation lasted no more than 2 minutes 30 seconds for 96.0% (95%CI: 99.0;100.0) and one attempt was enough to identify the majority of study volunteers [69.5% (95% CI:66.1;73.0)]. CONCLUSIONS Iris scan is highly acceptable as an identification tool in a clinical trial in HCP-Ps. Its operationalization during the trial demonstrated a high-level of accuracy that can reliably identify individuals. Iris scanning is found to be feasible in clinical trials but it requires a trained operator in order to reduce the duration and the number of attempts to identify a participant.

Detection of Involuntary Iris Scanning for Enhanced Biometric Security

Although iris recognition system is considered as most robust, hard to counterfeit and the most secure system of biometric authentication. However the existing system fails to detect a forced authentication which might be misused by criminals to unlock the user's account. In this paper we examine the conditions in which a real user is forcibly presented in front of iris scanner on gun point to unlock the account. In this case a significant difference is noted in the area of iris visibility with respect to user's normal iris area visibility. An abnormal eye blink is also detected in forced condition. We successfully design and developed an algorithm to detect such conditions to protect the users from criminals when a user is forcibly presented to an iris scanner to unlock their account. A sample size of 65 volunteers are taken to record the iris authentication in both the conditions i.e. normal with consent of user and forced under without user’s consent. The average size of iris is recorded 10.1 mm while it expands on 13.2 mm (average) in fear when iris is being scanned forcibly by criminals. We conclude that a variation of 2 to 3 mm in iris exposure is a clear biomarker to indicate some presence of criminal traces and take proactive measures to prevent losses.