New Breath Test

New breath test could detect virus in seconds

Early trials of a new test for covid-19 open up the possibility of rapid identificatio for the disease in just seconds rather than hours. Imspex Diagnostics said its devices could be executive Santi Dominguez. Said: hospital environment. "You could take a quick sample, it's non-invasive, you don't need a particularly specialised person to collect those samples - and a few minutes later you get a result." These machines were developed by Imspex at its headquarters in the Cynon Valley in south Wales. Originally, the technology was being used to develop tests to detect illnesses such as lung cancer, and how to distinguish between bacterial and viral respiratory diseases quickly.

But as coronavirus became a global pandemic, the firm took the decision to focus its diagnostic efforts on the emerging disease. Research shows breath analysis developed in Wales may be able to distinguish Covid-19 “We do have experience in that area, and from other chest infections almost instantly experience in its implementation. When Covid Results published by the Lancet follow trials and to contribute to the effort,” added the in Scotland and Germany and developers Imspex chief. ready to use in six months - if they can secure Two trials have now been carried out using funding. the firm's technology, on hospital patients in In a statement online founder and chief in the Covid outbreak. "The potential, I think, is very exciting," The study, led by Loughborough "Being so immediate, you could see many on its toxi-triage project to help emergency different applications outside a traditional services in civil disasters. "You could see the potential in aviation, you machines could tell the difference between a could see it in transportation in general, you patient with Covid-19 or another type of chest could see it in immigration. infection.

came along, it made us divert in that direction Edinburgh and in Dortmund, Germany, early University, evolved from the university's work Researchers tried to pinpoint whether the The equipment is analysing single breath samples, looking for volatile chemicals present in the expelled air that might give scientists a clue to why a patient was sick and had respiratory issues.

The tests were able to make out a signature for Covid in the chemicals and then confirmed by more traditional, and invasive, swab tests.

In approximately 80% of cases, they were able to accurately predict if the patient had Covid-19 - distinguishing the illness from other breathing problems such as asthma or bacterial pneumonia.

In the Edinburgh study, the researchers also identified chemical compounds that had a significant predictive power for the severity of the Covid infection, and whether it may cause a fatality.

Scientists concluded: “If shown to be reliable, it offers the possibility for rapid identification or exclusion of Covid-19 in emergency departments or primary care that will improve management of patients and safety of healthcare staff.”

They added: “Development and validation of this approach may allow rapid diagnosis of Covid-19 in the coming endemic flu seasons.”

A spokesman from Loughborough’s department of chemistry, said he was “hugely encouraged” by the results.

However, these remain small scale studies, with about 100 patients involved.

The company behind the equipment said it still needed to refine the technology before it was ready to be used in everyday situations, whether in hospitals or other environments such as airports. "We are a small company, if we had to do this ourselves with the current resources we have, we are 12 to 18 months from getting a solution," said Santi Dominguez.

"But we could probably get to market in under six months with the right support."

He said finding that support to take the next steps was now the company's priority.

"We have already had some support from the Welsh Government in the past. That has been very helpful in getting us to where we are," he said.

"But we are at the point now where we really need to change gear, if you like.

"It is one thing to get the technology to the point where it is approved and it can be used, but then you have to be able to make it in sufficient numbers - it's no good if you can only make a few."