Predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant impacts accuracy when screening for infection using exhaled breath vapor

Abstract

McCartney, Borras et al. analyse the metabolites present in breath samples collected from people with or without COVID-19. The authors find that the breath metabolite signature differs based on the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant circulating at the time, and that breath test accuracy improves when modelling samples from each variant wave separately.