biosensors

Researchers have developed this 3D-printed breath test for COVID-19. [Photo courtesy of Washington University in St. Louis]

It’s the same team that recently developed an air monitor that can detect the COVID-19-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus in the air within minutes.

Researchers from the McKelvey School of Engineering and the School of Medicine used the same ultrasensitive biosensing technique for the breath test.

The small, portable and adaptable device could help fight the airborne virus as at-home rapid tests increasingly report false negatives for new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Most COVID-19 transmission is still pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic.

The researchers envision their device being used for rapid diagnosis by doctors or to scr…

Washington University researchers (from left) John Cirrito, Rajan Chakrabarty, Joseph Puthussery and Carla Yuede stand with the SARS-CoV-2 wet cyclone aerosol sampler they developed. (Photo by Shubham Sharma/Washington University)

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a device that can detect the COVID-19-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus in the air within minutes.

The proof-of-concept device is possible thanks to recent advances in aerosol sampling technology and an ultrasensitive biosensing technique, said researchers at the McKelvey School of Engineering and the School of Medicine.

“There is nothing at the moment that tells us how safe a room is,” neurology professor John Cirrito said in a news release. “If you are in a room with 100 people, you don’t want to find out five days later whether you could be sick or not. The idea with this device is that you can know essentially in r…