A SIMPLE coronavirus breath test that delivers results within a minute is being developed by British scientists.
The technology, part of a project called TOXI-Triage, is said to use breath signatures to “rapidly distinguish the virus from other respiratory conditions”.
Professor Paul Thomas, from Loughborough University, said: “If shown to be reliable, this offers the possibility for rapid identification or exclusion of Covid-19 in emergency departments or primary care.
“That will protect healthcare staff, improve the management of patients and reduce the spread.”
The researchers recruited 98 patients for the small study, of whom 31 had coronavirus.
Santi Dominguez, chief executive of the Imspex Group, said: “The Imspex Group is very pleased that our groundbreaking technology has delivered these exciting results.
“They offer the possibility to dramatically improve people’s experience of taking a Covid-19 test.
“It will also play a part in restarting the economy through rapid screening of large numbers of people at airports and other transportation hubs.”
Medical detection dogs — used to smell Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and epilepsy — have been trained to spot Covid-19 carriers.
The Duchess of Cornwall witnessed two labradors yesterday picking out a virus carrier in a demonstration in London.
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