Breath Analysis System Used to Detect COVID-19 Was Initially Created to Detect Lung Cancer

We’re always taught to make lemonade when pelted with lemons from life, aren’t we? 

Well, this spirit was perfectly displayed by local startup Breathonix, which had to halt all clinical trials for its lung cancer breathalyser test due to restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead of stopping the grind and calling it a day though, the company merely pivoted to creating a breath test for COVID-19 instead and picked up the pace.

Here’s what they did. 

Breath Analysis System Used to Detect COVID-19 Was Initially Created to Detect Lung Cancer

Breathonix announced on 24 May that its COVID-19 breath analysis system had been the first in the country to receive provisional approval. 

According to Breathonix’s business development and strategy head Wayne Wee, the change in focus was “natural” since no other clinical trials were permitted at the time.

There were also high levels of interest in searching for a fast method of COVID-19 detection. According to CNA, Mr Wee said, “The technology, the hardware, even the know-how is the same. It’s just collecting a different set of data.”  

The company is supported by the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Graduate Research Innovation Programme.

They had begun a small study with the National Centre of Infectious Diseases (NCID), achieving a level of accuracy that was high enough to expand the trial.

Clinical trials and regulatory approvals were fast-tracked, and the company handled all of this with a budget of under S$1 million. 

According to Mr Wee, they also received plenty of assistance from stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health and NCID.

Many people have complained of the acute discomfort of having a swab stuck in one’s nose during COVID-19 testing. In contrast, Breathonix’s COVID-19 breath test system requires just one breath for testing. 

The breath is then transferred into a mass spectrometer and is analysed for COVID-19. 

The breath test currently has an accuracy level of 85.7% sensitivity and 97% specificity, with clinical trials underway to further boost accuracy levels. 

The breath test takes only 40-60 seconds, which would take away the need for a holding area in which people wait for their test results.

In addition, the test can be administered by trained non-medical staff members. 

The test is also much cheaper than PCR tests, which would make it suitable for locations with high volumes of people. 

Pilot tests have been deployed at Tuas Checkpoint since 31 May and are still currently ongoing. 

The company has also set their sights on other countries, such as Vietnam and Malaysia, to carry out more trials. Trials have already been conducted at Changi Airport. 

According to Mr Wee, the “bigger vision” is to “make breath tests (an) annual screening tool for every single individual”, which would be able to detect if one is at risk of any chronic disease like lung or nose cancer and tuberculosis.

Featured Image: Facebook (Breathonix)