Breath analyser that detects COVID-19 within 3 minutes approved for use in US

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The US Food and Drug Administration has approved for emergency-use a breath analyser that can correctly detect COVID-19 infections and provide results within 3 minutes.</p>
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The diagnostic tool, called the InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer, was tested on 2,409 people. It correctly identified 91.2% of the positive samples, and 99.3%, or almost 100%, of the negative ones. A follow-up clinical study on the Omicron variant had similar results, according to the FDA.</p>
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InspectIR’s breathalyzer is the size of a carry-on bag. The tests, which are noninvasive, must be performed by a qualified, trained operator. InspectIR Systems, which isn’t publicly listed, said in an explainer video that no biological materials are stored in its device.</p>
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InspectIR separates and identifies chemical compounds associated with Covid-19 infections in exhaled breath. The company expects to be able to produce approximately 100 instruments a week; each device can be used to evaluate roughly 160 samples a day, the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-first-covid-19-diagnostic-test-using-breath-samples">FDA announcement</a> said.</p>