SensNews June 2020

Sensor100 2020 14 Say goodbye to nasal swabs—researchers use breathalysers to detect COVID-19 In the fight against COVID-19, one of the most difficult challenges faced by the United States is testing—lack of testing, that is. For people who receive a test, the experience is far from enjoyable.The main technique used to collect samples is a deep nasal swab, a procedure doctors describe as moderately uncomfortable but some patients de- scribe as “being stabbed in the brain.” According to researchers at The Ohio State University (OSU), there may be an even easier and readily accessible way to administer tests—by using a breathalyzer. The COVID-19 breath- alyzer targets biomarkers that give a response specific to that infection and includes advances on nanomaterials for detecting specific breath gases at concentrations that can make a diagnosis. The researchers are now conducting human and animal testing and expect to receive emergency use authorization soon to start deploying the device as needed. The American Ceramic Society 30 June Sensor to detect Covid-19 and Flu in Single Saliva Sample “With a second wave of the coronavirus likely to appear right as we get into flu season, there’s an urgent need for diagnos- tics that can differentiate between COVID-19 and influenza,” said Deji Akinwande, a professor at the University of Texas. Graphene is so sensitive that it can even detect tiny biomol- ecules, such as viruses. “It became clear that just by changing the antibody, we could pivot the platform to focus on the coronavirus,” Akinwande said. The dual test would be infused with antibodies of both the coronavirus and influenza, with one side being sensitive to COVID-19, while the other side reacts only to the flu. The sensor, which is no larger than a micro USB drive, would save precious resources and save time for medical per- sonnel. It would also reduce the usage of nasal swabs, currently in short supply. Read more 26 June