InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer

An emergency use authorization has been granted by the United States Food and Drug Administration for a COVID-19 test that uses the breath samples of an individual. The authorized device is named the InspectIR Covid-19 Breathalyzer and has been developed by the company named InspectIR Systems.

Overview:

  • This device is around the size of carry-on luggage and it can detect, accurately within minutes, coronavirus on the breath of an individual.
  • This technique uses gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and separate the chemical mixtures and rapidly screen for five compounds that are associated with COVID-19 infection in the exhaled breath of a person.
  • By using a single-use sanitary paper straw an individual blow their breath sample into the device and then the device searches and identifies chemistry and compounds that are associated with COVID-19.
  • A positive result given by this device is still considered presumptive and the result must still be confirmed with an RT-PCR test.
  • This device can be a game-changer for large-scale screening of COVID-19 in an area.
  • Around 160 samples per day can be analyzed by this device.

Production and distribution of this device

The company that developed this device has the aim of producing around 100 test devices per week. So far only 10 devices have been made. In the month of May around 250 test devices will be ready to go.

The company has plans to lease these devices to various companies and industries such as prisons, nursing homes, schools, the travel and hospitality industry, etc., for the purpose of mass screening.

 


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