Refrigerator-Like Device Made In Russia Claims To Detect COVID-19 In Air

In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, Russia has come up with a device that is capable of detecting and analyzing airborne pathogens.

The list of pathogens that the device can detect includes bacteria, toxins as well as viruses ¨C including the novel COVID-19.

Russian pathogen detecting device 'Detector Bio' (Image: Anton Tushin)

Named ¡°Detector Bio¡±, the device has been developed by a team from Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow, the institute also responsible for the world's first registered COVID-19 vaccine - Sputnik V. The new device was showcased by the Krasnogorsk factory (or KMZ factory) during the military-industrial forum ¡®Army 2020¡¯ near Moscow on Friday.

Detector Bio is said to alert users of potential danger within seconds, and then pinpoint the source of the pathogen. The device takes the form of a refrigerator and constitutes a ¡°series of small laboratories¡± inside, as described by Russian state media RT in a report. The ¡®layer cake¡¯ design helps it perform a series of tests for accurate results.

In an interaction at the event, KMZ¡¯s Director General Alexander Novikov said, "This is a joint development with the NF Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of Russia. With the help of such a device, the automatic analysis of an air sample takes from ten to 30 minutes, depending on the concentration of pathogens and other factors."

How does it work?

Novikov explains that the Detector Bio is capable of detecting up to 86 infectious agents simultaneously. These can be viral, bacterial or toxin in nature. All this analysis is conducted in a fully automatic mode.

The detection is conducted by two independent methods - real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence. In its first phase the device gathers samples of the surrounding air. It can then detect and warn of any traces of a virus, bacteria or a toxin in the air within ten to fifteen seconds.

It is however, only after a second stage that the device can accurately identify the nature of the pathogen detected in the air. The more detailed analysis of the air samples can take between one to two hours.

Russian pathogen detecting device 'Detector Bio'

The company says that the device is designed to ensure safety in crowded places even during public events. It can even be used to monitor the presence of Covid-19 at infrastructure facilities like the metro, airports, railway stations and other transport hubs.

Novikov mentions that the state tests of the Detector Bio were completed in June. At this point, its certification is being prepared, so it is early to talk about orders. ¡°However, our readiness is maximum, and if necessary, we are ready to produce as much as the customer needs. It is important that this device can react to various pathogens in the air, so it can be used both for civilian purposes and to ensure biological safety,¡± said Novikov.