Japanese Researchers Working on COVID-19 Detecting Face Mask

A team of Japanese scientists from Kyoto Prefectural University are developing a face mask that will glow under an ultraviolet light to detect if the wearer has been infected with COVID-19.

According to the scientists, the mask they made contains an additional filter within its layers that once removed, it will be sprayed with a fluorescent dye that contains antibodies. If traces of the COVID-19 virus are detected in the mask, the filter will glow when it is placed under a UV light.

From the university’s press release, the team developed this method by first injecting an inactive form of the COVID-19 virus into female ostriches. Next step is to extract the antibodies from the eggs of these female ostriches, and then infusing these antibodies into the fluorescent spray.

Researcher Yasuhiro Tsukamoto said he conducted experiments with 32 people infected with COVID-19 over a 10-day timeframe. There they discovered that the masks worn by these testers glowed brightly and showed traces of the virus after being sprayed with the antibody spray and held under a UV light. The research team also noted that once the patients recovered, the glow faded over time.

Another trial is set to happen again but this time with 150 participants in the next round of testing. Tsukamoto and his team are in hopes for a green light from the government to sell the masks in 2022. (CT)