The Problem
Current screening methods
leave too many people behind.
Existing tools — imaging, lab-based breath analysis — each carry barriers that reduce access, accuracy, or both. BreathDX was designed specifically to address every one of them.
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Imaging detects tumors — not early risk
CT scans and mammograms detect a physical tumor that already exists — meaning cancer is often found only when it has grown large enough to see. 85% of lung cancers are diagnosed at late stage, when survival rates drop dramatically.
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BreathDX detects metabolic VOC changes that precede visible tumor formation — enabling earlier risk stratification.
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Breath samples degrade before analysis
Traditional breath collection uses polymer bags (Tedlar®) that suffer from VOC adsorption, permeation, and off-gassing — meaning the sample you analyze is not the sample you collected. Cold-chain requirements add logistics cost and failure points.
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BreathDX traps VOCs on a solid sorbent at collection — samples are stable, transportable without refrigeration, and fully recovered at analysis.
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Lab-based instruments are impractical
Gold-standard VOC analysis (GC-MS) requires large, expensive, lab-bound equipment operated by trained chemists — ruling out point-of-care use. eNose platforms sacrifice molecular specificity. Neither is deployable in a community clinic or mobile unit.
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BreathDX Analyzer is ~15 lbs, sits on a desk, and requires no specialist — bringing lab-grade sensitivity to any clinical setting.
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eNose and bag-based systems lack accuracy
Electronic nose (eNose) devices detect broad VOC patterns with no molecular specificity — prone to interference from diet, environment, and confounders. Reported sensitivity/specificity often falls at 70–80%, insufficient for clinical decision-making.
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BreathDX identifies individual molecules with molecular-level precision and AI pattern recognition — targeting >90% classification accuracy.
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Screening doesn't reach those who need it most
Mammography and CT are centralized, expensive, and uncomfortable — creating barriers for rural populations, minority communities, and those with religious or cultural hesitancy about physical examination. The result: delayed diagnoses and worse outcomes.
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BreathDX is portable, non-invasive, and culturally neutral — breath collection requires no physical examination, making it acceptable across diverse communities.
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High cost limits repeat screening
At $100–$250 per mammogram and $200–$500+ for CT, repeat annual screening is a significant financial burden — especially for uninsured or underinsured patients. Cost is consistently cited as a top reason for skipping recommended screening.
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BreathDX targets a fraction of current screening costs — making frequent, accessible repeat screening economically viable for clinics and patients alike.
