Coronavirus breathalyzer

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A coronavirus breathalyzer is a diagnostic medical device enabling the user to determine with 90% or greater accuracy the presence of coronavirus in an exhaled breath. As of the first half of 2020, the idea of a practical coronavirus breathalyzer was concomitantly developed by unrelated research groups in the United States, Finland, Israel, England, Australia and Germany.[1][2]

United States[edit]

In June 2020 American researchers at UCLA and Ohio State University received grants to test coronavirus breathalyzer concepts, one of which could produce results in 15 seconds. The testing system would be able to take certain compounds of an individual breath to detect coronavirus.[3] “The goal in this research is to develop cheap, massively deployable, rapid diagnostic and sentinel systems for detecting respiratory illness and airborne viral threats,” says Prof. Pirouz Kavehpour of UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, whose research team received a one-year, $150,000 research grant from the National Science Foundation.[4]

Canary Health Technologies, a US-registered company, is developing a breathalyzer with disposable nanosensors using AI-powered cloud-based analysis. It is working with researchers around the world to test the point-of-care device. The first clinical trial is due to start in August in South Africa with researchers at Wits University[5]. The goal is to develop a highly accurate and affordable screening tool that can be used anywhere and deliver a result in real time. Using volatile organic compounds in human breath for detection could prove to detect diseases before the on-set of symptoms, earlier than any of the current methods. The cloud-based technology is also designed to be used as a disease surveillance tool.

Finland[edit]

By the end of June 2020, Forum Virium Helsinki, in collaboration with Finnish software firm Deep Sensing Algorithms, funded by the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council,[6] announced that testing of their device had begun with a control group in Kazakhstan, with plans to expand to the Netherlands, the United States, South Africa, Brazil and Finland throughout the summer.[7] The efficacy of the Forum Virium Helsinki / Deep Sensing Algorithms device hinges on its AI component.[8] "We are engaged in innovative cooperation with corporations to solve the coronavirus crisis, and we will help firms to use the city as a development platform. We are utilizing artificial intelligence and digitalization," said Forum Virium Helsinki CEO Mika Malin.[9]

Israel[edit]

In Israel it is at the photonics lab of Gabby Sarusi, professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, that research is underway as of midsummer 2020.[10] Separately from Sarusi's project, in July, 2020 it was reported that Israeli start-up Nanoscent in cooperation with Sheba Medical Center had devised a breathalyzer that Magen David Adom (MDA) is seeking to incorporate into existing drive-thru testing stations located throughout the country.[11]

Questionable intellectual property of Gabby Sarusi regarding this project is now under discussion in the court in Israel. [12][13][14]

Australia[edit]

In Australia, GreyScan CEO Samantha Ollerton and Prof. Michael Breadmore of the University of Tasmania are basing a coronavirus breathalyzer on existing technology that is used around the world to detect explosives.[15]

Germany[edit]

In March 2020 the Singaporean company RAM Global conducted research in Germany in hopes of developing a one-minute breathalyzer test for SARS-CoV-2 based on terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The company attempted to develop a disposable test kit for direct detection of Covid-19 virion particles in breath, saliva and swab samples.[16] On March 31st RAM Global completed an initial clinical study on live patients at University Hospital Saarland. In April the company pursued a small unknown sample study in which hospital doctors provided unknown samples in order to test accuracy in differentiating positive and negative samples.[17] The company named its product platform ThEA, or Terahertz Express Analyzer.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Staff, "Coronavirus-Detecting Breathing Device Could Potentially Give a Diagnosis in Less than One Minute", HospiMedica International, April 20, 2020.
  2. ^ Anon, "New coronavirus test that is eight times faster can help locate asymptomatic carriers", EurekAlert!, April 20, 2020.
  3. ^ Young, J., "Sacramento Kings exploring breathalyzer concept to detect Covid-19, team owner says", CNBC, June 15, 2020.
  4. ^ Staff, "Team to Develop Breathalyzer-Like Diagnostic Test for COVID-19", ScienceBlog, May 21, 2020.
  5. ^ https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/in-south-africa-covid-19-breath-test-trial-set-for-june-67631
  6. ^ Anon, "Finnish companies develop instant COVID-19 breathalyzer", China Internet Information Center, June 29, 2020.
  7. ^ Salomaa, M., "Laakson terveysasemalla alkavat uuden laitteen puhallustestit koronaviruksen tunnistamiseksi", Helsingin Sanomat, June 28, 2020.
  8. ^ Anon, "Helsinki to trial coronavirus breathalyser", Yle, June 29, 2020.
  9. ^ News desk, "Finland to trial instant coronavirus breathalyzer", Daily Finland, June 29, 2020.
  10. ^ Zeldovich, L., "Will Travel Be Safer By 2022?", BBC News, June 22, 2020.
  11. ^ Keyser, Z., "Israeli technology that can 'sniff out' COVID-19 infections begins trials", The Jerusalem Post, July 1, 2020.
  12. ^ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840593,00.html
  13. ^ https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/07/20/israeli-one-minute-coronavirus-detector-at-center-of-aggressive-legal-battle/
  14. ^ https://jewishreview.co.il/israeli-one-minute-coronavirus-detector-at-center-of-aggressive-legal-battle-10515/
  15. ^ Hogan, M., & Woolley, S., "The world-first 'on the spot' COVID test that could detect the virus in minutes", Seven News, June 30, 2020.
  16. ^ Deters, Jannik. "Coronavirus-Schnelltest: Saarländer Firma verspricht Testergebnis in zwei Minuten". www.wiwo.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  17. ^ Deters, Jannik. "Uniklinik im Saarland: Wie sicher ist der Zwei-Minuten-Test auf Corona?". www.wiwo.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-23.

External links[edit]

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