英國科學家測試新冠病毒檢測口罩

萊斯特大學實驗室

英國研究人員希望測試一種低成本的口罩，這種口罩可以在出現癥狀前檢測出受測者是否感染了新型冠狀病毒。萊斯特大學的專家表示，如果測試成功，這種方法可以簡化對病毒的大規模檢測，并抑制新冠病毒的傳播。這種采樣口罩上配有3D打印的條狀物，可以在30分鐘內捕獲呼出的微生物。

英國萊斯特大學的科學家稱，這種經過改造的口罩可以讓大批人同時接受檢測，有助于遏制病毒的傳播，避免長時間的隔離。該大學的臨床微生物學教授邁克·巴瑞爾說：“冠狀病毒可以通過被感染者的口腔、咽喉和呼吸系統傳播。這種新方法令人振奮是因為它在癥狀出現之前就可以幫助確定一個人是否受到感染。使用口罩采樣的方法來測量呼出的病毒量，將使我們能夠比較不同的人呼出的病毒量，并有助于我們集中力量控制和預防病毒的傳播。”他補充說，“這種口罩可以很容易地在任何標準的病毒診斷實驗室進行處理。”

研究人員說，之前用改造口罩以篩查肺結核患者取得了成功。最初，這些采樣口罩將針對其他呼吸道感染疾病的患者進行試驗，檢測結果將與咽拭子檢測結果進行比對。

如果該試驗證實了新方法的有效性，研究人員將繼續針對新冠病毒患者測試這種口罩。預計需要兩到三個月的時間才能進展到這個階段。該大學表示，如果這種口罩能進行工業規模生產，成本可能只有“幾便士”。（孫曄供稿）

Researchers hope to trial low-cost face masks that can detect whether someone has infectious coronavirus before they display any symptoms.Experts at the University of Leicester said if successful, the method could simplify large-scale screening for the virus and curb the spread of COVID-19. The sampling masks will be adapted using 3D printed strips and can trap exhaled microbes in a 30-minute period.

Scientists claim the adapted masks could allow large groups to be checked at once, which could help curb the spread of the virus and avoid long stays in quarantine.Mike Barer, professor of clinical microbiology at the university, said: “Coronavirus is spread from the mouth, throat and respiration system of infected individuals.This new approach is exciting because it could help us determine whether a person is infectious or not, even before symptoms of the virus have appeared.Measuring how much of the virus is breathed out by using the mask sampling approach will allow us to compare levels of the virus exhaled by different individuals, and could help us focus control efforts on preventing spread.” “The mask can easily be processed in any standard virus diagnostic laboratory,”he added.

Adapted masks have previously been successfully used to screen patients for tuberculosis, researchers said.Initially the sampling masks will be tested on patients with other respiratory infections and the results will then be compared to throat swab results.

If that trial validates the new approach, researchers will then move on to using the masks in trials with the new coronavirus.It is expected to take between two to three months to reach this stage.The university said if the sampling masks were manufactured on an “industrial scale” they could potentially cost “pennies” .