This Breathalyzer Detects the Flu

A scientist at the Academy of Texas at Arlington (UTA) has invented a hand-held breathalyser that can detect the flu virus. The device—developed past Perena Gouma, a professor in UTA's materials science and engineering department—works merely like the breathalysers police force apply to exam claret alcohol level, according to a news release from the school. A patient simply exhales into it once, and semiconductor sensors in the device can "isolate biomarkers associated with the flu virus and indicate whether or non the patient has the flu," the school said.

Such a piece of technology has the potential to detect other diseases in the futurity every bit well. "I think that technology like this is going to revolutionise personalised diagnostics," Gouma said. "This will allow people to be proactive and catch illnesses early, and the technology can easily be used to detect other diseases, such as Ebola virus disease, but by changing the sensors."

Gouma'south research is funded via the National Scientific discipline Foundation. Those interested in learning more can cheque out an commodity virtually the device, authored past its inventor, in the January 2022 edition of the journal Sensors.

About Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag's skilful on fitness and smart habitation products. Teaching yoga for well-nigh ten years has helped her in evaluating a range of connected wellness products including fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, strength grooming machines, treadmills, and more. Angela also tests smart home devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, just to name a few.