"Airborne monitor to detect SARS-CoV-2 wild-type and mutations in airborne samples using Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques (NAT)" in Patent Application Approval Process (USPTO 20240269671).

A patent application from the University of Illinois details a microfluidic device and methods for detecting airborne viruses and bacteria, including SARS-CoV-2 and its mutations. The device can sample the surrounding air in real-time and search for viral RNA or pathogen DNA. It can identify the presence of a wild-type virus or bacterium, estimate the distance to the source, and analyze collected samples for known mutations. The device aims to detect and control the spread of airborne pathogens and could be integrated into bio-monitoring networks to prevent future pandemics. [Extracted from the article]