Australian scientists develop a rapid COVID-19 detector, delivering results in as little as 30 seconds

Australian researchers are currently developing what is being called a world-first breath testing device, one that is as simple to use as a roadside breath test. Unlike the throat swabs and blood tests commonly used today, it can detect COVID-19 within minutes simply by having a person breathe into it, delivering rapid results.

At present, this testing device is in the early stages of development. Its main aim is to help Australians change the way they fight COVID-19 and to make public gatherings safer, with potential uses at airports, sporting events, and other mass gatherings.

GreyScan CEO Samantha Ollerton said the current testing process is "highly invasive" and promised that the new system will be "more user-friendly, fast and accurate".
Much like a roadside breath test, it works by having a person breathe into a tube, but with one difference: this method requires the filter to be removed before the virus test is carried out, ensuring a higher level of detection accuracy.

What the research currently lacks is the ability to identify whether someone has been to a particular place and shed the virus onto surfaces there. This detection technology is derived from technology used worldwide to detect explosives, and if successful, it would cut the time to analyse the virus from 30 minutes to around 30 seconds, greatly improving the efficiency of virus testing.