NUS start-up develops 60-second breathalyser test for Covid-19

SINGAPORE — Medtech start-up Breathonix, a spin-off company from the National University of Singapore (NUS), has developed a breathalyser test that can detect a Covid-19 infection in under a minute. 

The test achieved more than 90 per cent accuracy during a pilot clinical trial with 180 patients.

Currently, standard Covid-19 tests involve inserting a swab into an individual’s nose or mouth and some find them uncomfortable. Diagnosis, which is usually done with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, may also take a few hours. 

In contrast, Breathonix’s breath test only requires the individual to blow into a disposable mouthpiece. 

The exhaled breath is measured and analysed for volatile organic compounds which can be used as a marker for Covid-19.

“Different diseases cause specific changes to the compounds, resulting in detectable changes in a person’s breath profile,” said Dr Jia Zhunan, chief executive officer of Breathonix. 

A machine learning software then generates the result within 60 seconds. 

The test during the clinical trial also obtained a sensitivity rate of 93 per cent, which means it correctly identified 93 per cent of positive Covid-19 cases, and a specificity rate of 95 per cent, which means the test correctly identified 95 per cent of negative Covid-19 cases.

“Our breath test is easy to administer and it does not require specially-trained staff or laboratory processing,” said Dr Jia. 

She added that results are generated in real time which makes the breath test a suitable solution for mass screening in areas with high human traffic.

When she was a PhD Student, Dr Jia developed this type of technology for the early detection of lung cancer. 

She then founded Breathonix with chief operating officer Mr Du Fang in 2019. The company is supported by the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme which focuses on nurturing deep technology start-ups founded by graduate students and research staff.

Breathonix said the trial is still ongoing. It is also waiting for regulatory approvals for its technology and receiving guidance on deploying its solution for mass screening.