COVID-19 masks are commonplace protection for the threat of the coronavirus spread. But, did you know that there is a face covering that could help you detect if a person is infected by the virus or not? Through the latest mask prototype, you could now easily identify the presence of COVID-19 in your body within a little over an hour.
Prototype Face Mask Goes High Tech in COVID-19 Detection
According to Optometry Today, a group of US researchers managed to create a special face mask that will not only protect the person from adopting the coronavirus: it would also know if he or she has COVID-19 or not in the body.
What's amazing about this one is the fact that it has sensors that will aid it in the diagnosis of the virus. From the user's breath, they could now evaluate the results by identifying the viral particles.
Upon wearing the mask, the detection will begin. The sensors will start to function and later present the results to the wearer only. You can know if you have COVID or not by looking at the inside part of the mask.
According to scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), these are the same sets of sensors used in clothing for a similar purpose: the detection of the coronavirus in the body.
Since health workers are always exposed to the virus, their lab coats and other equipment should be helpful not only for protection but for monitoring the threats from the deadly virus--if these sensors are attached to them.
Read also: Study Reveals Proper Double-Masking Fit Works Against COVID-19: How to Double-Mask and Check its Fit
Where Did the Experts Get This Idea?
Previously, the application of the sensors was used in diagnosing Zika and Ebola viruses. According to MIT Professor James Collins, the team made use of the "freeze-dry" method to integrate the virus-detecting sensors into a wearable. These biotech items could trace the toxic chemicals and the bacterial nucleic acids in the body.
Since 2014 when Collins experimented with the paper diagnostics concerning the two viruses, his team began exploring options if it could be mixed with textiles--to heighten health campaigns for the workers in terms of virus detection.
The scientists can have the option if they want to add colors to the sensors so giving signals would be easier. In addition, they also managed to conceptualize a spectrometer that can be attached to the fabric. The notable part behind this is the portability of the results that can be transferred from a single mobile device to another.
'Fast' As Antigen Test
The researchers have been developing this technology since the peak of the pandemic. At the time, they were continuously searching for a solution that could hasten the diagnosis of the virus.
"This gives you an information feedback cycle that can monitor your environmental exposure and alert you and others about the exposure and where it happened," Harvard University's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering research scientist, Dr. Peter Nguyen said
Nguyen added that the sensor technology exhibits the same speed as the antigen test in terms of detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The study entitled "Wearable materials with embedded synthetic biology sensors for biomolecule detection" was published on Nature.com on Monday, June 28.
Related Article : [COVID-19 Update] Japanese Engineers Develop a Mask with Built-in Speaker, Microphone, and Translation Software
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Written by Joseph Henry
