Singapore soon deploys ventilators to detect COVID-19 in just… 2 minutes

Singapore is expected to soon roll out large-scale user breathalyzers and provide immediate COVID-19 diagnosis results.

Users only take 10 seconds to breathe into the machine and less than 2 minutes later have COVID-19 results. Photo: Straits Times According to the Singapore Straits Times, the device will ensure the safety of movement and inspection at large-scale events. Previously, local health technology company Silver Factory worked with the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Changi Airport and security company Certis to develop the device. Silver Factory’s ventilator, called TracieX, is proven to give results nearly as accurate as a PCR test, which takes only about 2 minutes. Compared with PCR test, the sensitivity rate of TracieX ventilator is above 95% and its specificity is above 99%. Device sensitivity is the ability to confirm which test samples are positive, while specificity is used to confirm a negative. The price for a test with this device is only 20 USD (about 460,000 VND). The device has been tested at NCID, Changi and Certis airport terminals with over 400 participants. During a test at Changi Airport last month, passengers were randomly selected and asked to voluntarily provide breathing samples. “Testing with a ventilator will be less invasive, effective and quick to give results. From there, creating favorable conditions for passengers to fly,” said Mr. Abert Lim – Vice President in charge of passenger experience of Changi Airport Group – said. Silver Factory Technology’s TracieX ventilator uses a sensor chip to identify molecular traces in the breath of patients with COVID-19. Medical staff take a breath sample and put it into the processing device to read the results. Photo: Straits Times Disposable breathing tubes with control features keep infectious material sealed, thus preventing direct contact of these materials with others, such as healthcare workers. The user will breathe into the device for 10 seconds. The device is then inserted into a portable reader for analysis and results. The process is completed in less than 2 minutes. Silver Factory is currently working with Enterprise Singapore under the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry with the ambition to bring this technology overseas.