Sticking a swab up your nose might be a thing of the past shortly: American scientists have created a fast-working breath test that identifies traces of the virus that causes COVID-19.
The team from Washington University in St Louis, USA, made tiny green breathalysers for use in medical practices. They expanded on previous research that developed monitors to detect airborne molecules of SARS-CoV-2 indoors.
When a person breathes into the breathalyser, the virus’s spike proteins bind to a nanobody – in this case, a specialised llama antibody. Once attached, the biosensor oxidises tyrosine amino acids within the protein, and the device measures this electrochemical process to confirm a positive sample.
The research team estimates each test costs less than US$10 (about AU$15) and takes under 2 minutes to provide and analyse the sample in a specialised machine.
It’s also suggested the breathalyser could be adapted to test for other respiratory diseases, including influenza, rhinovirus and RSV.
“With this test, there are no nasal swabs and no waiting 15 minutes for results, as with home tests,” said co-senior author Associate Professor Rajan Chakrabarty from WashU’s McKelvey School of Engineering.
“A person simply blows into a tube in the device, and an electrochemical biosensor detects whether the virus is there. Results are available in about a minute.”
Read science facts, not fiction…
There’s never been a more important time to explain the facts, cherish evidence-based knowledge and to showcase the latest scientific, technological and engineering breakthroughs. Cosmos is published by The Royal Institution of Australia, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. Financial contributions, however big or small, help us provide access to trusted science information at a time when the world needs it most. Please support us by making a donation or purchasing a subscription today.