The FDA recently authorized the use of a new COVID-19 breathalyzer. But how accurate will it be, and how do you get one? Find out here.
) issued an emergency use authorization for the first COVID-19 breath test that can detect chemical compounds associated with SARS-CoV-2 in just three minutes. According to the FDA, the InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer is around the size of a “piece of carry-on luggage”, and can be used in locations where the patient’s sample is collected and analyzed by a qualified health care provider authorized to prescribe tests, like hospitals, mobile testing sites, and doctor’s offices.
But how accurate will the results be? The COVID-19 breath test was used in a study of 2,409 patients, a group that included those with and without COVID-19 symptoms. The breathalyzer correctly identified 91% of positive samples and 99% of negative samples. In a follow-up clinical study, the tool correctly detected the omicron variant with similar levels of accuracy.