Officials in Singapore have issued provisional approval for a coronavirus breathalyzer test that can return a result in under 60 seconds. The project was developed by local startup Breathonix which is a spin-off company by the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Breathonix said that it is currently in discussions with the Singapore Health Ministry to initiate a trial of this new breathalyzer test at its border points with neighbouring Malaysia. This breathalyzer test will be used alongside rapid antigen testing which is known for returning quick results although its accuracy can be off as compared to an RT-PCR test.
What’s exciting about this new technology is that it managed to achieve 93 per cent accuracy in a pilot clinical trial conducted in Singapore with 180 patients. The test achieved 93 per cent sensitivity and 95 per cent specificity in its final results.
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These tests make use of disposable mouthpieces, which the manufacturer says has been designed to avoid cross-contamination.
When an individual blows into the mouthpiece, the system analyzes the chemical compounds of the breath to know whether or not a person is infected. Any person with a positive report on this breathalyzer test will have to confirm it with an RT-PCR swab test, the company said.
Breathonix further mentioned that it has seen increasing commercial interest both locally and from overseas for this new breathalyzer test.
This test has the potential to change the way the pandemic is handled thanks to its rapid detection. However, the cost will be a big factor, especially if it makes its way to India. Reuters quoted a Breathonix spokesperson saying that each test may cost between S$5 (₹275) and S$20 (₹1,100) depending on the volume of the purchase.
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