Americans will know if they have COVID-19 through a breathalyzer test, the Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday.
The FDA has granted emergency use authorization to a check produced through InspectIR Systems that collects a breathing pattern and analyzes chemical compounds related to the coronavirus, the first of its kind to be legal for use.
In a study involving 2409 people, the test yielded a positive COVID infection in 91. 2 percent of cases and negative samples detected 99. 3 percent of the time, the FDA said in a statement. A similar result was observed in a follow-up study targeting the contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus.
According to InspectIR, the check is done by exhaling into a tube in the same way that a balloon is inflated and produces effects in 3 minutes.
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The FDA said the hand luggage length check tool and breath checks can only be performed at doctors’ offices, hospitals and other screening sites.
“Today’s approval is another example of the immediate innovation that is happening with diagnostic testing for COVID-19,” said Jeff Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. 19 trials with the goal of developing technologies that can help address the existing pandemic and better position the United States for the next public health emergency. “
The FDA has stated that a positive result received from the InspectIR COVID-19 breathalyzer test will be shown through a molecular test.