The value of breath analysis in diagnosing COVID-19 (e-Nose) [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
‘e-Nose COval’ - The Clinical Validation of the eNose using the Breath Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds in diagnosing COVID-19
IRAS ID
293170
Contact name
Steven Laird
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Technological devices, such as electronic noses (eNoses) use sensors to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath and are used in industries such as food, environment and the military, as well as in development for healthcare for disease detection and diagnosis.
A valid breath test to diagnose or exclude COVID-19 infection would be of great benefit to support rapidly testing and managing patients and the population during the present pandemic. Examples of this technology can be seen below in the following articles.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28238110/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29320769/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6173698/Proposed study
This is a clinical validation study of a novel diagnostic technique which will recruit patients at a single NHS Trust, UHCW, to assess a breathe analysis test in order to detect COVID-19 infection.
Patients who have had a very recent SARS-CoV-2 swab as part of their routine care will be screened. Consented participants are required to breathe into the device direct or a collection device at a single visit. The breath sample will be analysed immediately using a designated medical gas analyser provided by our University of Warwick partner.
The v.o.c. profile of the different subgroups will be compared to evaluate the ability of the eNose breath test to diagnose COVID-19 infection.
The study is a validation study and the standard care that participants would normally receive will not be affected. The ‘eNose’ is used for research purposes only at this time and the results are not being fed back to the patient clinically thus there will be no impact on patient care. Please note that this is a medical device validation study only.REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0043
Date of REC Opinion
4 Mar 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion