Singapore company eyes breathalyzer test for COVID-19
Marie Donlon | May 26, 2021A company spun off from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed a breathalyzer test for detecting COVID-19.
The BreFence Go COVID-19 Breath Test System from Singapore’s Breathonix is a non-invasive rapid test that returns results in just 60 seconds, according to its developers.
Source: Breathonix
The device reportedly features a disposable one-way valve that the user breathes into and the breathalyzer then measures and analyzes volatile organic compound (VOC) biomarkers present in the breath.
The breathalyzer test, which is less invasive than the nasal swab tests currently in use, has a reported 85.7% rate of accuracy in sensitivity and a 97% rate of accuracy in specificity without artificial intelligence.
Breathonix has already earned provisional approval from Singapore’s Health Sciences Authorities for the test.