Application of Virtual Reality for PBMC Isolation

Abstract

This article presents the development of a virtual reality (VR) training program for the preparation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The VR training utilizes VR headsets and a two-touch controller to control the laboratory environment with all required equipment and tools. The developed software for VR training can reduce the medical training time for the science or medical staff who have to learn in the lab. An interactive training system is proposed which contains a timer and performance tracking system, ensuring that the progress can be understood by the user and performance can be evaluated. The program is designed to support conventional teaching methods and increase the efficiency of the teaching process. The virtual reality training is expected to minimize the cost required to perform PBMC isolation and positively enhance the environmental suitability by reducing the use of physical equipment. The developed VR training software can be used as a teaching medium for students and can also be used in any open space, serving as an efficient learning media for familiarizing with the whole experiment process. The experimental results are discussed including laboratory procedure, process tracking, and performance tracking. Moreover, the usability test and the virtual performance index are proposed to validate the application of VR for PBMC isolation. The testing results are accepted with the high scores of usability and virtual performance index.