Smiths Detection Confirms BioFlash Detects Multiple Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Smiths Detection has confirmed that the Bioflash air sampler can detect Beta, Gamma, Kappa, Delta, and Delta plus variants.
Smiths Detection, a company specializing in threat detection and security screening technologies, announced on Oct. 13th, 2021, that its air sampler, BioFlash, can detect multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. In addition to the Alpha variant, it can detect the Beta, Gamma, Kappa, Delta, and Delta plus variants. Confirmation of additional emerging variants, including the Lambda variant, is currently ongoing.
The BioFlash Biological Identifier is a bioaerosol collection and identification system. In addition to COVID-19, it can also identify threats such as anthrax, ricin, botulinum toxin, black plague, tularemia, and smallpox.
Last January, Smiths Detection announced that the BioFlash was capable of detecting airborne SARS-CoV-2 following tests done by the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. According to a company press release, it has been used by several universities to stop the spread of COVID-19 following detection of the virus.
“It has been a great asset to have this equipment at UMBC,” said Mike Pound, director of environmental health and safety for University of Maryland, Baltimore Country (UMBC), in the press release. “As everyone knows, you need a layered protection strategy to combat COVID. BioFlash is easy and fast to use which makes it a critical part of our mitigation strategy to help prevent transmission.”
“Emerging variants are a threat to pandemic recovery; however, mitigation strategies that utilize BioFlash will have an advantage,” said Warren Mino, managing director at Smiths Detection, in the press release. “BioFlash works by collecting aerosols and identifies the presence of dangerous pathogens using sensitive, specific and rapid detection in near-real time without laboratory analysis. Not only can BioFlash detect COVID-19 and its variants, it can be used by anyone, giving them immediate results, in minutes not days, which helps stop the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne pathogens.”
Source: Smiths Detection
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