Coronavirus breathalyzer

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A coronavirus breathalyzer is a device that tests for SARS-CoV-2 in a person’s exhaled breath. Some claims say it can detect the virus with 90% or higher accuracy, while others aim to screen people quickly by analyzing the breath’s chemical clues.

Starting in the early 2020s, many research groups around the world began working on breath tests. In Australia, GreyScan and the University of Tasmania explored using technology similar to what’s used to detect explosives. In Australia and elsewhere, other teams proposed quick tests that could be done at drive‑throughs or clinics.

Several specific efforts stood out. Some projects focus on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath and use artificial intelligence to recognize patterns linked to infection. For example, a Toronto company is developing disposable nanosensors and cloud AI to deliver results in under a minute, with trials in India aiming to provide affordable screening anywhere. A Finnish initiative tested a device that uses AI to analyze breath data in collaboration with partners in many countries, aiming to help cities use breath analysis as a development tool and surveillance aid.

Other groups pursued high‑tech sensing methods. RAM Global in Singapore explored terahertz spectroscopy to create a one‑minute test kit, with early clinical work conducted in Germany. In Indonesia, the GeNose C19 electronic nose uses multiple gas sensors and AI to classify breath samples, with a goal of rapid, low‑cost screening after a government permit in 2020. Israel has several parallel efforts, including collaboration with hospitals to adapt breath tests for drive‑through testing.

In the Netherlands, Breathomix’s SpiroNose device was used as a pre‑screening breath test in some settings, though results could be inconsistent depending on deployment. Poland’s ML System rolled out a device marketed as a fast breath test, with independent trials reporting moderate sensitivity and high specificity in early results and plans to expand to airports and other markets.

Other researchers focused on direct detection of the virus in breath. In the United States, university programs explored rapid breath analysis for potential quick diagnoses. In 2022, the U.S. FDA granted emergency use authorization to the InspectIR COVID‑19 Breathalyzer, which uses gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to identify markers in breath associated with the virus. In 2023, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis reported a breath‑based sensor that could directly detect SARS‑CoV‑2 in about a minute, with plans to adapt the device for other respiratory diseases.

Overall, many breathalyzer concepts showed promise for fast, noninvasive screening, but devices varied in method, accuracy, and regulatory status. Researchers continue to refine technology and explore how breath tests could complement existing tests for early detection and wider screening of respiratory illnesses.