COLUMBUS – Instead of an invasive nasal swab, researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are exploring the use of a unique breath test for the rapid screening of patients for COVID-19.
Results from the initial study in patients, published today in the journal PLOS ONE, found the breath test is highly accurate in identifying COVID-19 infections in critically ill patients.
The breathalyzer test in OSU’s study can detect COVID-19 within seconds, according to lead researcher Dr. Matthew Exline. It could replace the uncomfortable nasal-swab test that requires lab time to process.
The new device being studied uses nanosensors to identify and measure biomarkers in exhaled breath within 15 seconds, the release said. It was developed by OSU professor Pelagia-Irene Gouma and Stony Brook University professor Milutin Stanaćević. OSU Professor Andrew S. Bowman also contributed to the study.
The breathalyzer test can greatly improve the ability to rapidly screen both patients and asymptomatic people, researchers said. Nasal-swab tests can often miss asymptomatic patients, the release explained, whereas the breathalyzer can pinpoint infection within 72 hours of the onset of respiratory failure.
Future studies will look at the use of this technology for less severe COVID-19 patients and will explore whether other diseases and infections could benefit from it. The research team has applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization of the breathalyzer technology.
