Novel Device Detects COVID in the Air

Researchers have developed a rapid SARS-CoV-2 detection device that can identify viral particles in the air within five minutes. The device can be used in public places like hospitals, shopping centers, and airports, providing real-time information about the presence of the virus.

It operates by sucking in air at high speeds, trapping viral particles in a liquid solution, and using a biosensor made of llama immune system proteins to detect spike proteins of the virus. The device demonstrated 77 to 83 percent accuracy in detecting various coronavirus variants in the air and has the potential to detect other airborne viruses as well. The cost to build the device is approximately $1,400 to $1,900.