First-Ever Breath Test for COVID-19 Gets Approved - FDA
by Naba Batool
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According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the first-ever coronavirus test that can be used to spot the chemical compounds associated with the virus in the breath is now approved.
This test is now known as InspectIR Covid-19 Breathalyzer. It is the size of a small luggage piece that you can easily carry. Thus it is easy to use in both medical clinics as well as in mobile testing vans. Furthermore, this device can give results in a span of fewer than 3 minutes.
FDA grants emergency use authorization for the first Covid-19 breath test, which can be used at medical offices and mobile test sites. https://t.co/ETxoctoOki
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) April 14, 2022
This device is built on a system that separates and then identifies the chemical compounds to detect five main compounds that are commonly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Moreover, the research on this one also solidifies that it can accurately identify more than 91% of the samples and 100% of the negative samples. But a positive result is yet to be confirmed with a PCR test.
Dr. Emily Volk, president of the College of American Pathologists and a board-certified anatomic and clinical pathologist said that "It's another tool, and the FDA announcement suggests it's reasonably accurate and a relatively user-friendly tool,"
Volk also added that "It waits to be seen how widely this will be adopted. That could rely on how expensive it is."
Currently, Inspector IR Systems have not disclosed the price or when it will be available in the market. Dr. Jeff Shuren, director of FDA’s center for devices and radiological health said in a statement that
"The FDA continues to support the development of novel COVID-19 tests with the goal of advancing technologies that can help address the current pandemic and better position the U.S. for the next public health emergency."
