Singapore OKs breathalyzer that can detect COVID-19 in 60 seconds
Singapore's Health Sciences Authority has given provisional approval to a breath test that has the potential to speed up and cheapen the process of COVID-19 testing.
Created by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Breathonix breathalyzer only needs 60 seconds to determine whether or not someone has COVID-19.
The tech uses disposable mouthpieces to assess the chemical compounds of one's breath to determine COVID-19. If an individual tests positive through the breathalyzer, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab test is still necessary to confirm the results.
The company achieved a 90% accuracy rate during a Singapore pilot test with over 180 participants last year. They are now currently working with the country’s health ministers to roll out larger-scale trials at one of the city’s border points with Malaysia.
As of writing, Singapore has now jabbed over 1,991,524 individuals with their first dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Photos from Breathonix