- Title: Covid detector sniffs out the virus in the air
- Date: 28th September 2021
- Summary: GRAVELINES, FRANCE (FILE - FEB 2021) (REUTERS) MAN RECEIVING NOSE SWAB HEALTH WORKER PREPARING TEST SAMPLE MAN RECEIVING NOSE SWAB HEALTH WORKER PREPARING TEST SAMPLE
- Embargoed: 12th October 2021 16:35
- Keywords: Airborne Covid detector Dr Arnab Basu Kromek air sample continuous Coronavirus testing automatic autonomous
- Location: LONDON / COCKERTON / SEDGEFIELD & DARLINGTON, ENGLAND, UK / GRAVELINES, FRANCE
- City: LONDON / COCKERTON / SEDGEFIELD & DARLINGTON, ENGLAND, UK / GRAVELINES, FRANCE
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Europe,Life Sciences,Science
- Reuters ID: LVA008EWRU2QJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A new kind of Covid detector can sniff out Coronavirus in the air and raise the alarm, according to its developers.
The device uses the same technique as PCR tests and has been trialled at an airport and schools in the north east of England.
"This is one of the world's first completely automatic and autonomously run airborne Covid detection system," Dr Anab Basu, CEO of Kromek, told Reuters.
"It collects air, condenses that air into a small droplet of water and takes that through a full analysis process and gives you the result of presence or absence of Covid and every 30 minutes," Basu said.
The system is designed to test the air in large spaces rather than test individual people and is aimed at airports, entertainment venues, colleges, shops and hospitals.
"Everything that we will do, sanitisation, ventilation, will be better done if it is information or data driven," Basu said.
"These type of detectors will provide that data when we need to act and keep people safe."
The machine can test hundreds of litres of air per minute and is able to recognise even trace levels of virus.
Basu said a return to normality depends on knowing when there is no need for PPE or stringent protective measures, as well as when there is a need.
"If we are able to provide a guidance of where there is more concentration of Covid, or the risk is higher and where the risk is low, those things can be managed better. That use of PPE can be managed better. Health care workers can be kept safe. And as a result, we can get back towards that normality in our life, in everyday life everywhere," Basu said.
The Covid Detector is in pre-production and is ready to be deployed commercially.
Backed by a US innovation agency, Kromek are also developing technology to detect all known, novel and mutating airborne pathogens, bacteria and viruses which could act as an early warning system deployed around cities or at border crossings.
(Production: Stuart McDill) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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