DrDay after day, scientific and technological developments are trying to win the battle against the virus that has kept the world on alert for two years, causing deaths and shaking the economies of all nations.
When health experts announced the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the main step taken by governments was to try to find the most appropriate and fastest way to prevent an increase in infection in the population. However, the enemy facing the modern world was somewhat unknown and his first attack was so deadly that the possibility of producing a vaccine was out of sight.
As the months passed, it was decided that through certain tests it was possible to detect the presence of the virus in people.
timely detection
Using samples taken from the nose or mouth, a viral test showed whether an individual was infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Under this approach, there were two types of virological tests: rapid tests and laboratory tests.
The known ‘S’ protein antigen test identified SARS-CoV-2 virus elevation and results were obtained within 15 to 30 minutes.
Laboratory tests analyzed the presence of immunoglobulins (IgM), which appear 7 to 10 days after contact with the virus.
So far, a positive IgM indicates an active infection, while a positive IgG means the infection has been overcome.
Thus, rapid tests provide an overview of the situation and allow to some extent to track, isolate and control the COVID-19 pandemic, because timely detection of undiagnosed vectors helps prevent further infection.
The fastest test at the moment
In an unprecedented development, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for what it said was the first device capable of detecting COVID-19 in breath samples in less than three minutes.
It’s called the InspectIR, and it’s a test similar to a breathalyzer that only instead of measuring a person’s blood alcohol content, it determines if they have symptoms of COVID-19.
The test is designed for use in hospitals, doctors’ offices, or mobile testing centers. It requires a handbag the size of a kit and is capable of testing about 160 samples per day.
The InspectIR analyzes breathing by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and detects five compounds that are exhaled when a person is infected with SARS-CoV-2.
“The FDA continues to support the development of new COVID-19 tests with the goal of developing technologies that can help address the current pandemic and the status of states,” said Dr. the United States better in the event of the next public health emergency. 19 official test, in a statement declaring InspectIR leave.
Encouragingly, in the fight to reduce the spread of the disease, this new test revealed that in a study of 2,409 infected and asymptomatic people, the device was able to detect 91.2% of cases, and gave false positive results only in 0.7% of cases. Results.
