Opteev introduces plug-in virus alarm for return to offices, classrooms

Two manufacturers of airflow, temperature and sensor technology that spun out a Baltimore-based company called Opteev have launched an in-room virus detection system for COVID-19, the flu and other viruses.

Opteev says the airborne virus detector — called ViraWarn — is the first plug-in screening device to analyze air in indoor spaces, detect virus contamination and warn occupants, which the developers say will keep schools, hospitals, meeting rooms and offices safe. Testing is taking place at outside laboratories in India now with U.S. testing set to begin soon.

The system uses biosensing technology to screen air as opposed to the COVID-19 tests for humans that require a biological sample from a nasal swab.

ViraWarn is being marketed as a way to not only help stop the spread of COVID-19, new variants and other viruses but spur the return to pre-pandemic in-person working, learning, worshipping and recreating.

The technology is being launched by Opteev — a sister company of Novatec Inc., which holds patents in airflow and air-drying machinery, and MachineSense LLC, which develops Industry 4.0 manufacturing platforms for airflow conveying systems.

Opteev is 80 percent owned by Novatec, according to Conrad Bessemer, Novatec CEO and the chairman and co-founder of Opteev.

"Opteev formed in June, but the project has been worked on by MachineSense and Prophecy Sensorlytics in India, where we have 40 employees, for over a year," Bessemer said in an email. "We focused on early India testing and use because India was a hotbed of COVID earlier this year and first established the Delta variant."

Bessemer describes Opteev's mission as improving health safety in a world less tolerant of behaviors that promote virus transmission yet also eager to get back into the classroom, office and other indoor settings.

"With more people dying from COVID-19 in the first six months of 2021 than all of 2020, it's clear that the pandemic is far from behind us," Bessemer said. "Less than half of Americans are fully vaccinated, and dangerous COVID-19 variants have been identified. New procedures and technologies are needed to stop the spread of COVID-19 this year while allowing people to enjoy their lives."

The science behind ViraWarn and its patent-pending technology makes it possible to detect coronaviruses in real time and alert decision-makers so that they can evacuate and disinfect common indoor areas like classrooms and waiting rooms, added Biplab Pal, co-founder and chief technology officer at Opteev.

"This screening is a game-changer," Biplab said. "Before this technology was developed, we had to wait days to get test results back, and by that time, it's too late. With ViraWarn, we're making it safer to be together indoors and helping prevent large-scale virus transmission in the future."

ViraWarn modules are plugged into the electrical sockets located around the periphery of the room to provide screening protection across the entire space. Patented sensor technology focuses on the unique electrochemistry of spiked protein viruses, including COVID-19 and influenza, to trigger an alert.

Like a smoke detector monitoring the air and sounding when smoke is detected, ViraWarn monitors the air and signals when coronavirus particles are present within minutes of their introduction by infected individuals.

"We detect any spike protein virus, which is the total SARS COVID spectrum and also includes influenza," Bessemer said. "The spike protein changes the electrochemistry of the refillable media we have in the device. Our software looks for that change specifically. Since we are not a testing device, we do not analyze which virus it is, but it has to be a spike virus family, which includes all the variants."

ViraWarn modules use air suction to move air through the detection chamber for analysis. If a viral alert is triggered, an LED light and audible alert signal. The room then can be evacuated and disinfected and the occupants screened. A mobile app is also available for mobile notification alerts.

In addition, the devices have carbon dioxide and particulate sensors to maintain healthy interior spaces.

Bessemer said ViraWarn delivers peace of mind while helping keep groups safe. The devices are well suited for classrooms for children, who have low vaccination rates, and businesses, he added.

"For return to work, we are suggesting use in conference rooms, vending areas and cubicle areas," Bessemer said. "We are not suggesting this for larger areas at this point because the airflows are significantly different."

ViraWarn was successfully tested in lab settings and its efficacy has been proven in real world, in-person use cases, according to Opteev officials.

"We distributed 1,000 home kits to people with and without COVID for testing accuracy purposes," Bessemer said. "We also tested at the Kerla Laboratory, which is sponsored by the Indian government. We are presently testing in India at the School of Tropical Medicine in Kolkata, where we have offices."

The device will be tested in two U.S. labs this month, he added.

Two different models — X and XL — should be ready for shipping starting in September. ViraWarn X (starting at $459) plugs directly into an electrical outlet mounted to the wall, while ViraWarn XL (starting at $799) is a standalone device with a larger media chamber that can go longer in between changing cartridges.

Opteev plans to introduce a household version of ViraWarn for about $200 at CES 2022 (formerly the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas in January 2022.

"The current models are planned for return-to-school and return-to-office environments and have a slightly different format," Bessemer said.