UC San Diego development adhesive that works as a simple COVID-19 test on masks

SAN DIEGO (KABC) – Researchers at UC San Diego are developing an easy way to test the risk of COVID-19. The technology comes in the form of an adhesive located on the outside of the mask.

“This could have a really profound impact on the trajectory of the pandemic,” Jesse Jokerst, an associate professor at UC San Diego, told KGTV.

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The test looks for the presence of a COVID-19 protease specific to people’s breath. While someone wears the sticker on the mask all day, he collects drops.

“At the end of the day, you click on a small blister, and if it changes color, it means you may have been exposed to COVID and need to do additional testing,” Jokerst said.

The test uses a technique called “Colorimetric Detection,” similar to home pregnancy test indicators.

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Jokerst compares it to a smoke alarm. The test will not tell you exactly what is going on, but it does serve as a warning that you need to take additional safety precautions.
“That’s what we were trying to develop. It’s a device that could say, ‘Hey, there’s a high risk today and everyone should do additional testing,'” Jokerst explained.

This type of color-based test has never been used for virus detection.

Jokerst says that once the pandemic is over, these tests could still assess the risk of diseases like SARS and MERS.

KGTV contributed to this report.

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