Breath test that can detect Covid-19 to be rolled out in Singapore
Developed by NUS graduates, the test can detect the virus within a minute; trial slated at Tuas Checkpoint
A breath test that can accurately detect Covid-19 within a minute will be rolled out in Singapore, with a trial slated to begin at Tuas Checkpoint in the next few days.
Developed by Breathonix, a spin-off company from the National University of Singapore (NUS), the breath test system has received provisional authorisation from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).
It is the first such system to receive HSA's provisional authorisation. This was announced yesterday in a joint statement by Breathonix and NUS.
The company's breathalysers will enable Covid-19 testing to be done much faster and more efficiently, without the need for swab samples to be processed elsewhere.
Breathonix is working with the Ministry of Health for its deployment trial at Tuas Checkpoint, where incoming travellers will be screened.
This breath analysis will be carried out alongside the current compulsory Covid-19 antigen rapid test.
For the new BreFence Go Covid-19 Breath Test System, a person simply exhales into a disposable one-way valved mouthpiece connected to a breath sampler.
A mass spectrometer analyses the invisible particles called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the exhaled breath.
A healthy person will have a different VOC signature from someone who is ill, and different illnesses produce different signatures.
Any individual with a positive breathalyser result must undergo a confirmatory polymerase chain reaction swab test.
Dr Jia Zhunan, chief executive of Breathonix, said: "Our breath test is non-invasive. Users only need to breathe out normally into the disposable mouthpiece provided, so there will not be any discomfort.
"Cross-contamination is unlikely as the disposable mouthpiece has a one-way valve to prevent inhalation and a saliva trap to prevent saliva from entering the breath sampler."
The breath analysis system underwent clinical trials at three locations from last June to last month.
Two of the trials were carried out here, at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases and Changi Airport, while the third was carried out in Dubai.
The company was founded by three NUS graduates - Dr Jia, Mr Du Fang and Mr Wayne Wee - along with Professor T. Venky Venkatesan.
It is supported by the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme (Grip), a scheme that encourages talented NUS graduate students and research staff to establish and run high-potential start-ups based on deep technologies.
Professor Freddy Boey, deputy president of innovation and enterprise at NUS, who oversees the NUS Grip team, said: "Securing provisional authorisation in Singapore is a major milestone for Breathonix, and NUS is very proud of this achievement by our start-up.
"The pandemic is likely to go on for several years. Mass, repeated testing has to be widely adopted as a key public health strategy to support the safe reopening of economies, and Breathonix's home-grown technology hits the right spot.
"I am confident that their novel technology will make a significant contribution towards protecting the safety and health of Singaporeans and the global community."
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now