Air sampler detects airborne SARS-CoV-2 variants including Delta and Delta plus 

Smiths Detection have recently confirmed that its BioFlash® air sampler can detect SARS-CoV-2 variants including the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), Beta variant (B.1.351), Gamma variant (P.1), the Kappa variant (B1.617.1), Delta (B.1.617.2) and Delta plus variant (B.1.617.2.1). Smiths Detection is also in the process of confirming the capability to detect the Lambda variant, the results should be available soon. 

Earlier this year, Smiths Detection reported that BioFlash can detect airborne SARS-CoV-2 and was being deployed by the United States Army of Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). It has also been successfully installed by a number of universities to thwart the spread of COVID-19 as a result of airborne detection in campus buildings. 

“Emerging variants are a threat to pandemic recovery; however, mitigation strategies that utilise BioFlash will have an advantage. 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.”, explained Warren Mino, MD of Smiths Detection.