Domestic researchers have developed a technology to quickly detect viruses floating in indoor air. This is expected to help early detection of viral infectious diseases such as influenza and COVID-19 in places like schools and hospitals and prevent their spread.
Professor Jang Jae-sung from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) announced on the 3rd that the faculty has developed a new monitoring system capable of capturing and rapidly analyzing viruses in indoor air without damage. The results of this research were published in the international journal "Environmental Science & Technology" on the 30th of last month.
The currently used virus detection technology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), allows for precise analysis; however, it has the drawback of a complex processing procedure that is time-consuming and labor-intensive, making real-time monitoring or on-site application difficult. Additionally, it is challenging to determine whether a virus present in the air is infectious.
To address these limitations, the researchers designed a monitoring system that employs a completely different method. The newly developed system draws in air, condenses droplets onto the surface of viruses within it to make them heavier, then captures them using a paper immune sensor. The heavier virus particles collide with the sensor surface due to inertia and are collected.
Captured virus samples are detected within 30 minutes through the paper immune sensor. At this point, the presence of the virus as well as the potential for infection can be determined through antibody reactions with the surface protein hemagglutinin (HA). The more HA protein detected, the higher the infectivity of the virus.
The researchers collected and analyzed 17 air samples from actual elementary school classrooms, hallways, and cafeterias, detecting the influenza A virus (H1N1) in four of these locations. In contrast, the researchers noted that no viruses were detected using commercial equipment at the same locations.
Professor Jang said, "This technology can be applied not only to influenza but also to various respiratory viruses, including COVID-19," adding that "through further research, it can significantly contribute to early infection monitoring and response in public places, hospitals, schools, and other diverse spaces."
References
Environmental Science & Technology (2025), DOI : https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c14065