UC San Diego develops sticker that works as a simple COVID-19 test on masks

SAN DIEGO (KABC) – UC San Diego researchers are developing a simple way to test for COVID-19 risk. The technology comes in the form of a sticker that is placed on the outside of your mask.

“It could have a profound effect on the course of the pandemic,” Jesse Jokerst, an associate professor at UC San Diego, told KGTV.

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The test looks for the presence of a specific COVID-19 protease in human breath. If someone wears the sticker on the mask throughout the day, it collects drops.

“At the end of the day, you click on a small blister pack, and if it changes color, it means that you may have been exposed to COVID and that you need to examine additional tests,” Jokerst said.

The test uses a technique called ‘Colorimetric detection’, similar to indicators for home pregnancy tests.

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Jokerst compares it to a smoke detector. The test will not tell you exactly what is going on, but it does serve as a warning that you need to take further action for safety.
“This is what we tried to develop. It’s a device that can say, ‘Hey, today there’s an increased risk, and everyone needs to do another test,'” Jokerst explained.

This type of color-based test has never been used for viral detection.

Jokerst says that once the pandemic ends, these tests can still assess the risk of diseases such as SARS and MERS.

KGTV contributed to this report.

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