Abstract
Public health threats such as the current COVID-19 pandemics have required prompt action by the local, national, and international authorities. Rapid and noninvasive diagnostic methods may provide on-site detection and immediate social isolation, used as tools to rapidly control virus spreading. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to evaluate a commercial breath analysis test (TERA.Bio®) and deterministic algorithm for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 spectral signature of Volatile Organic Compounds present in exhaled air samples of suspicious persons from southern Brazil. A casuistic total of 70 infected and 500 non-infected patients were sampled, tested, and results later compared to RT-qPCR as gold standard. Overall, the test showed 92.6% sensitivity and 96.0% specificity. No statistical correlation was observed between SARS-CoV-2 positivity and infection by other respiratory diseases. Further studies should focus on infection monitoring among asymptomatic persons. In conclusion, the breath analysis test herein may be used as a fast, on-site, and easy-to-apply screening method for diagnosing COVID-19.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, Brazil, threat, social isolation, Infection, Local, virus, respiratory diseases, sensitivity, specificity, RT-qPCR, Health, Asymptomatic, International, Algorithm, breath, Patient, Pandemics, Rapid, correlation, Diagnostic method, Analysis, noninvasive, gold standard, Compound, SARS-CoV-2 positivity, National, diagnosing, screening method, Public, statistical, organic, non-infected, tested, evaluate, required, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Trial, clinical, breath, Analysis,