Singapore firm invents coronavirus breathalyser with results in seconds

[snoop1130]

Singapore firm invents coronavirus breathalyser with results in seconds

By Chen Lin

 

A staff member demonstrates the usage of Breathonix breathalyzer test kit developed by Breathonix, a start-up by the National University of Singapore, able to detect the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) within a minute according to the company, at their laboratory in Singapore October 29, 2020. REUTERS/Chen Lin

 

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A company in Singapore has developed a breathalyser test for the new coronavirus which it says will enable people to know whether they are infected in under a minute.

 

Breathonix, a startup firm from the National University of Singapore, says its test achieved more than 90% accuracy in a pilot clinical trial of 180 people in the city-state and hopes to get regulatory approval early next year.

 

Countries worldwide are looking to develop alternative tests to the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) nasal swab, which is invasive and in short supply in some places where demand has outstripped manufacturers' production capacity.

 

Breathonix is currently expanding its trial in Singapore and hopes to improve accuracy and get the green light to go commercial in the first quarter of next year.

 

At US$20, Breathonix says its test would be 70% cheaper than PCR tests, although infected patients would likely still need the more sensitive PCR tests to confirm the diagnosis.

 

"The breath test is more like a first level screen device," said Jia Zhunan, co-founder and CEO of Breathonix, adding it could be deployed at conferences, sports events and concerts.

 

The device uses disposable mouthpieces and is designed to ensure there is no cross-contamination.

 

After blowing into the device, it assesses the chemical compounds of the breath to determine whether or not a person is infected. Results are generated by a computer within 60 seconds.

 

A similar breathalyser is being tested by a hospital in France, although experts have warned the system may be too costly for widespread distribution.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-29

 

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[GreasyFingers]

7 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

At US$20, Breathonix says its test would be 70% cheaper than PCR tests, although infected patients would likely still need the more sensitive PCR tests to confirm the diagnosis.

So not a cheap solution. If it was that good the Singapore government could make it free for their citizens.

[Sametboy2019]

2 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

So not a cheap solution. If it was that good the Singapore government could make it free for their citizens.

Like everything they arent going to give us the best tech first. Have to make the money on the old tech first!

[from the home of CC]

yes, they smell the money though accuracy is prime..

[DrTuner]

The price would likely go down with mass adoption. It's useful tech.

[ChrisY1]

A brilliant piece of equipment and congrats. to Singapore for this.

If successful, I could see this being installed everywhere

[mr mr]

13 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

If it was that good the Singapore government could make it free for their citizens.

heheheheheh

 

you kidder you. a government passing up on a new trough of money to stick their disgusting snouts into ? 

[DrDave]

Seems like a useful tool. At 90% accuracy, hopefully it errs on the side of false positives which can be followed up with a PCR test, rather than false negatives.

[ICELANDMAN]

It is a good solution that I hope will soon be used instead of invasive PCR, but it also goes further in the case of tuberculosis and lung cancer.

[scoupeo]

This is the only real solution that will restart the world.

But how many years before it is in our pockets ?