Indonesia is in the midst of distributing the GeNose breathalyzer, which was developed by Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and is said to able to detect the coronavirus in two minutes with a 93 percent accuracy rate, for use in public facilities in Java.
However, screenshots recently taken from online marketplaces showed that the device was available for sale for up to IDR 90 million (USD 6,420), even though it hasn’t been approved for widespread public use and distribution.
Research and Technology Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro saying that it’s likely the sellers are trying to profit off of the novel tech.
The minister said one GeNose device has a retail value of IDR 62 million (USD 4,423).
It’s not yet known if GeNose was actually sold online or if the listings were a scam.
GeNose is set to be used to screen inter-city train passengers in Java starting Feb. 5, 2021.
Bambang said other transportation hubs will soon adopt the technology, as well as hospitals, schools, and public service offices, among others.
A single GeNose test will only cost around IDR 15 thousand (USD 1.07), compared to around IDR 250 thousand (USD 17.75) for an antigen rapid test or IDR 900 thousand (USD 63.91) for a PCR test.
