FDA authorized COVID-19 tests via breath samples after approving the InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer for emergency use.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 31: A COVID-19 testing site stands in Manhattan on March 31, 2022 in New York City. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has said that remote work is hurting the city’s economy which depends on workers patronizing restaurants and other businesses. According to New York State Department of Labor, New York City’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 7% in February — down by 5.5% from February 2021 but still higher than February of 2020. Despite the numbers, there is a significant increase in foot traffic in Manhattan with many area restaurants and bars starting to have long wait times at peak hours.
FDA Approves First COVID-19 Breath Test
The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved the first-ever COVID-19 test that uses breath samples, as per a news story by CNN.
The news outlet noted that the InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer is the first-ever COVID testing method that detects the novel coronavirus from the breath of a person.
The newly authorized breath test looks for any chemical compound liked to COVID from a breath of a person.
InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer
The FDA highlighted that InspectIR Breathalyzer for COVID is portable enough to be used in small settings, such as clinics, as well as satellite testing sites.
A recent study of the COVID breath test showed that it provides accurate negative results of up to 99.3 percent, whereas positive samples had 91 percent of accuracy.
Meanwhile, the same study with 2,409 participants also learned that the COVID Breathalyzer showed the same level of accuracy for the more transmissible variant of the virus, the notorious Omicron.
According to a recent report by CNET, the FDA requires a follow-up PCR molecular test when the breath test gives a positive COVID-19 result. On the other hand, negative findings would no longer need any additional tests.
Meanwhile, as per ABC News, the FDA revealed that InspectIR, the firm behind the first authorized Breathalyzer, expects to deliver roughly around 100 testing devices every week.
The US agency further added that the arrival of the InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer should increase the testing capacity in the country by about 64,000 every month.
FDA and COVID Testing
The director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health of FDA, Dr. Jeff Shuren, himself, said that the authorization of breath testing proves COVID-19 diagnosis is rapidly innovating.
A health worker prepares to conduct a swab test for the Covid-19 coronavirus at a residential compound during the second stage of a pandemic lockdown in Jing' an district in Shanghai on April 6, 2022.
The FDA director went on to add that "the FDA continues to support the development of novel COVID-19 tests with the goal of advancing technologies."
In turn, the innovation in COVID testing should help the US in handling not only the ongoing pandemic that the world is facing. Instead, it should also assist the country in facing public health emergencies that are still coming our way.
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Written by Teejay Boris
