UK's Integumen unveils prototype COVID-19 breath test

LONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Integumen, a British
company that developed a system to detect the COVID-19 virus in
waste water, said the same technology could be deployed in a
personalised breath test that could become an effective tool in
fighting the pandemic.

AIM-listed Integumen has formed a consortium with water
contamination monitoring company Modern Water and Avacta
and Aptamer Group, which will supply COVID-19 binding
agents for the tests, to adapt its technology to the new uses.

U.S. group Dell Technologies has also joined to
provide data services, Integumen said at its annual meeting on
Thursday.

The tests detect the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in real
time by analysing a sample of breath or waste water.

The company has designed, built and tested a prototype
device, which can analyse a sample of breath to detect a high
load of the virus.

Integumen said the device could be used for instant,
real-time testing, with negative results used for a 24-hour
digital health pass that could be combined with QR codes to
allow entry into work locations, social locations and public
transport.

Chief Executive Gerry Brandon said the devices were ready
for live virus testing.

"The company believes that to enable the economy to re-open
fully, the public are going to have to take the responsibility
of testing against this virus themselves," he said.

"By providing an instant real-time breath test with a
digital reader platform, and combined with appropriately priced
products, we can drive a consumer-led duty of care for personal
COVID-19 responsibility."

Both the breathe and the waste water devices would be tested
with real COVID-19 virus samples at the University of Aberdeen,
it said.

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Avacta Group