Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport is installing between 8 and 15 GeNose C-19 processors. Each unit can daily evaluate 500-600 breathing bags.
The GeNose C19 is a coronavirus screening device created by Indonesia’s Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta that can quickly analyze the exhalations into a plastic breathing bag and determine if the COVID-19 virus is present in only 3 minutes. The machine examining the collected exhalations from the plastic bags uses reagent gasses to detect COVID-19.
The system and the technology have been tested and certified by the Indonesian Ministry of Health under the category of “Electro-medical non-radioactive B” with an official registration number of RI AKD 2040102288.
As quoted by NusaBali, the Manager of Stakeholder Relations at the Bali Airport Authority (PT Angkasa Pura I), Taufan Yudhistira, said on Wednesday, 31 March 2021, that trial operations for the GeNose C19 are now underway following orders issued by the Task Force for the Mitigation of COVID-19 and the Ministry of Transportation.
According to Taufan, domestic air travelers are required, effective 01 April 2021, to present valid proof of a negative COVID-19 test performed by PCR Swab, rapid tests, or GeNose C-19. It is expected that the GeNose C19 test procedure will become available at Bali’s Airport starting 07-08 April 2021.
Angkasa Pura I has secured 120-GeNose C19 testing units for use in airports nationwide, with between 8 and 14 units reserved for Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport. Each unit is eventually expected to serve 500-600 people per day. In the initial trial period, only 150 bags will be prepared for each testing unit.
The provision of GeNose19 tests at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport is the result of a cooperative effort with Farmlab.
The price to be charged for GeNose C19 tests is still under discussion. Detik.com reports that the GeNose C19 Test is available at Surabaya’s Juanda Airport at the cost of Rp. 40,000 per test. In Surabaya, the GeNose C19 units can handle 10-12 tests per hour, with one hour needed for processing test results. After 8 hours of operations, the GeNose C19 unit needs to be turned off and rested for one hour.