Testing for COVID-19 will soon be as easy as blowing into a test tube.

Researchers at Rutgers University are working to develop a non-invasive, rapid COVID-19 test that can detect viruses and other respiratory diseases within minutes, similar to the analysis of a blood alcohol content breath analyzer.

The test will collect the user’s exhaled particles and deposit them on the electronic biosensor, providing results in just 10 minutes.

“In addition to helping diagnose COVID-19, the goal of the project is to create a platform that can be extended to future, easy-to-use, non-invasive rapid breath analyzers to diagnose respiratory diseases, including possible future pandemics. disease.” Chief Researcher Edward DeMauro saidAssistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers University.

Awarded to the National Institutes of Health Rapid Diagnosis and Diagnosis Program $443,000 grant for two years The project is led by DeMauro, Drazer, Hao Lin and Mehdi Javanmard of Germany.

They hope that the new rapid breathing analyzer technology can help reopen large-scale event venues. The prototype may be ready in the next two years, The researcher said.

“In the market, this is an excellent technology with huge potential,” Pragati Sharma, Fund Manager of Rutgers HealthAdvance, said.

The test can be performed without medical staff or laboratory results, which may be groundbreaking for people with intellectual disability and autism, who are homeless and unable to travel independently.

This population is particularly affected by COVID-19. NPR report It was found that Pennsylvanians with mental disabilities are more likely to die from COVID-19 than residents in other states.

This is not the first COVID-19 technology introduced by the State University of New Jersey. Researchers at Rutgers University have also developed a saliva test that is far less invasive than a nasal swab. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

DeMauro told Philadelphia He, Drazer and Lin have been working on air purification systems, while Javanmard is developing a sensor to detect proteins in exhaled breath. They combined the two powers and worked hard to create a breathalyzer test through both techniques.

They are currently simulating and optimizing the equipment and building prototypes.