searchers hope to trial low-cost face masks that can detect whether someone has infectious coronavirus before they display any symptoms.

英国研究人员希望测试一种低成本的口罩，这种口罩可以在出现症状前检测出受测者是否感染了冠状病毒。

Experts at the University of Leicester said if successful, the method could simplify large-scale screening for the virus and curb¹ the spread of Covid-19.

莱斯特大学的专家表示，如果测试成功，这种方法可以简化对病毒的大规模检测，并抑制新冠病毒的传播。

The sampling masks will be adapted using 3D printed strips and can trap exhaled² microbes in a 30-minute period.

这种采样口罩上配有3D打印的条状物，可以在30分钟内捕获呼出的微生物。

About 80,000 people so far have been infected with the disease worldwide.

目前，全球新冠病毒感染者大约有8万人。

Scientists claim the adapted masks could allow large groups to be checked at once, which could help curb the spread of the virus and avoid long stays in quarantine.

科学家称，这种经过改造的口罩可以让大批人同时接受检测，有助于遏制病毒的传播，避免长时间的隔离。

Mike Barer, professor of clinical microbiology at the university, said: "Coronavirus is spread from the mouth, throat and respiration³ system of infected individuals.

该大学的临床微生物学教授迈克·巴瑞尔说：“冠状病毒可以通过被感染者的口腔、咽喉和呼吸系统传播。”

"This new approach is exciting because it could help us determine whether a person is infectious or not, even before symptoms of the virus have appeared.

“这种新方法令人振奋是因为它在症状出现之前就可以帮助确定一个人是否受到感染。”

"Measuring how much of the virus is breathed out by using the mask sampling approach will allow us to compare levels of the virus exhaled by different individuals, and could help us focus control efforts on preventing spread."

“使用口罩采样的方法来测量呼出的病毒量，将使我们能够比较不同的人呼出的病毒量，并有助于我们集中力量控制和预防病毒的传播。”

"The mask can easily be processed in any standard virus diagnostic laboratory," he added.

他补充说：“这种口罩可以很容易地在任何标准的病毒诊断实验室进行处理。”

Adapted masks have previously⁴ been successfully used to screen patients for tuberculosis⁵, researchers said.

研究人员说，之前用改造过的口罩来筛查肺结核患者取得了成功。

Initially⁶ the sampling masks will be tested on patients with other respiratory infections and the results will then be compared to throat swab results.

最初，这些采样口罩将针对其他呼吸道感染疾病的患者进行试验，检测结果将与咽拭子检测结果进行比对。

If that trial validates⁷ the new approach, researchers will then move on to using the masks in trials with the new coronavirus.

如果该试验证实了新方法的有效性，研究人员将继续针对新冠病毒患者测试这种口罩。

It is expected to take between two to three months to reach this stage.

预计需要两到三个月的时间才能达到这个阶段。

The university said if the sampling masks were manufactured on an "industrial scale" they could potentially cost "pennies".

该大学表示，如果这种口罩能进行工业规模生产，成本可能只有“几便士”。