Medical staff swab members of the public in their car at a drive through testing facility in Edinburgh (Picture: Duncan McGlynn)

A breath test which could instantly pick up signs of coronavirus has been developed by British scientists.

Experts say the ‘breakthrough’ technology would speed up the diagnosis process and could be used in airports, GP surgeries, pharmacies and ambulances.

Scientists at Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, say the device needs further testing but it could ‘revolutionise the way we diagnose diseases,’ such as coronavirus.

Currently, airports are mainly relying on temperature tests to monitor incoming travellers for signs of the virus. UK clinicians take nose, throat and deeper respiratory samples and send the package to a PHE lab, which provides a result the same working day.


Experts at Northumbria University have been developing the technology (Picture: Getty)

Scientists say temperature tests are not effective enough to spot Covid-19 (Picture: Reuters)

However, Northumbria scientists say the new technology could transform testing as it samples lungs in a quicker, non-invasive way by patients breathing into it.



Dr Sterghio Moschos, of Northumbria University, who is leading the development of the technology, said: ‘In the case of coronavirus, temperature monitoring in airports is not sufficient.

‘The World Health Organisation currently recommends testing nasal swabs, oral swabs and swabs from inside the lungs to avoid missing the infection.

‘That’s why it’s vital that we develop non-invasive, quick and cost-effective tests for diagnosis and screening.’

It comes as the number of confirmed cases in the UK rose to 53, with the NHS declaring a Level Four incident – the highest category of emergency – against the spread of the virus.

A man wearing a protective face mask walks past an information sign for a Coronavirus pod at a hospital in London (Picture: Reuters)

Experts say the new technology could have a ‘huge impact on healthcare globally’ and could be used to diagnose other respiratory illnesses, including lung disease, liver issues, diabetes, cancers, brain and ageing diseases.

The device works by picking up biological information from the breath sample, known as biomarkers, that can indicate disease.

If it contains biomarkers such as DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids, this indicates the lung has the potential to be infected with disease or illness.

Experts say typical systems that make diagnoses from breath samples have not been reliable enough due to contamination, variability issues and sample loss.

However, they say the new device has worked out these issues, so the data collected through it closely resembles results from lung samples taken surgically.

Experts say the new device could revolutionise the way we detect Covid-19 (Picture: LNP)

Dr Moschos added: ‘Our ambition is to reduce the need for bloodletting for diagnosis in its broadest sense.

‘The research evidence that shows this is possible is well established, what is missing is the standardised and reliable approach to do so outside the research lab: in pharmacies, GP surgeries or the back of an ambulance.’

Professor George Marston, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Northumbria University, said: ‘The team have ambitions for this technology to replace invasive venous and respiratory sampling tests where possible, particularly for older and younger patients where needles and invasive tests can be uncomfortable or sometimes not possible.

‘We need new medical technologies that quickly and easily diagnose disease and monitor heath, and this device is one of those technologies. Sterghios and his team, along with our fantastic partners, have the skills and experience to take this technology to market, resulting in huge impact on healthcare globally in the coming years.’

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