Australian researchers expect to develop quick breath test for COVID-19

Australian scientists expect to develop a quick breath test for coronavirus within 12 to 15 months, in a potential major boost to the safely of travel and public gatherings.

Michael Breadmore, of the University of Tasmania, left, and Pavan Kumar Chadalawada test for flu using adapted explosives detection technology Picture: Chris Crerar

Australian scientists expect to ­develop a quick breath test for coronavirus within 12 to 15 months, in a potential boost to the safety of travel and public gatherings.

A team that developed and commercialised a rapid test to ­detect traces of homemade explosives is attempting to apply the same technology to viruses, ­including COVID-19.

If successful, an on-the-spot test for coronavirus, taking only a few minutes, could improve the safety of travel and public gatherings, particularly if efforts to create a vaccine fail or are long delayed.

Michael Breadmore, director of the Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science, told The Australian he was confident his research team would develop a quick test to identify COVID-19 on surfaces and breath.

“That would give us a real quick non-invasive test, something like a breath test by a roadside police person, to see whether you are infectious for COVID-19,” the Hobart-based researcher said.

“Imagine somewhere like an airport. Having an initial screen to say ‘You know what? Maybe you have a viral infection or COVID-19’ or ‘You’re clean’ will give us a lot more confidence to travel. We are actually really confident that if we can detect it on a surface, we can also detect it on something that’s being used to capture breath.”

Professor Breadmore said the research, assisted by Swinburne University of Technology respiratory disease expert Bruce Thompson, was using technology developed by his team 15 years ago to detect traces of homemade explosives rapidly.

The COVID-19 test research is funded with an initial $260,000 from the CSIRO and the company that commercialised the rapid explosives test, GreyScan Pty Ltd, based in Port Melbourne.

“That technology base is also suitable for separating things like viruses and bacteria and it was actually the basis of the original sequencing of the human genome, so the technology has a long history,” Professor Breadmore said.

“Within about six months we are expecting to have systems for (virus) testing in the US and in Australia and then to go through that first test phase and a rapid engineering cycle to then begin manufacturing in 12 to 15 months.”

The work is part of a worldwide race to produce a fast breath test.