The presence of the virus in the air detected

Published on 21.10.2022

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Coronavirus » Scientists have developed a sensor to detect SARS-CoV-2 in ambient air.

Healthcare personnel are particularly at risk of Covid-19 infection. A research team from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and the Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research (Empa) has developed a system capable of measuring the amount of SARS-CoV-2 virus directly in the ambient air using a biosensor.

Until now, the presence of the virus in the air was detected primarily via laboratory analyses. The new system called CAPS makes it possible to identify and quantify the virus in the ambient air of a room, the National Research Program “Covid-19” (PNR 78) said yesterday.

Jing Wang and his team at Empa and ETHZ work on measuring, analyzing and reducing air pollutants such as aerosols and nanoparticles. Before the arrival of the new coronavirus, they were already looking for sensors capable of detecting bacteria and viruses in the air. In early 2020, scientists shifted their research to developing a sensor to reliably identify SARS-CoV-2.

The first step is sampling, for which aerosols are collected and enriched in a liquid solution. The biosensor then analyzes this solution and measures the amount of RNA specific to Covid-19.

The system has been tested in hospital rooms and nursing homes occupied by people infected with Covid-19 as well as in adjacent corridors. The observed performance was found to be similar to that of modern PCR assays.

In view of these results, development has been continued and the solution can now be used in high-risk areas such as hospitals and nursing homes. According to its designers, the sensor might detect the presence of the virus in other busy public places. ATS