Copyright thehindubusinessline
Accubits Invent, a deep-tech start-up, has secured a patent for its sensor for ‘breath-based VOC (volatile organic compounds),’ opening up opportunities in non-invasive medical diagnostics. Accubits operates from Bio360 Life Sciences Park in Thiruvananthapuram, and integrates biotechnology; artificial intelligence; and material science to create diagnostic platforms. Major health hazards The start-up claims its technology is capable of flagging health hazards such as cancer, tuberculosis or metabolic disorders ‘within minutes.’ VolTrac, the patented sensor technology, analyses VOCs emitted through human breath and sweat, biological markers that reflect specific metabolic changes in the body. Every disease produces a distinct VOC signature, and VolTrac sensors identify molecular patterns in under 90 seconds, with a lab-verified accuracy rate of 98.5 per cent. The screening device is built on proprietary sensors. Human biochemistry Founded by Nidhin Sreekumar, chemical engineer, Accubits Invent evolved from research on how plants communicate through VOCs, before extrapolating it to human biochemistry. It yielded an ultra-sensitive chemi-resistive sensor capable of detecting VOCs at parts-per-trillion levels, that went on to win the 2024 patent. Sreekumar, also Managing Director, said VolTrac works just like a breath analyser. “Only, instead of alcohol, it detects a disease. By enabling early, non-invasive screening, we can save lives and reduce healthcare costs.” Multiple domains VolTrac’s scope extends across multiple domains of healthcare such as screening for cancers; diabetes; liver disorders; neuro-degenerative disorders; and respiratory infections, among others. It also enables point-of-care screening in rural or low-resource settings where traditional lab infrastructure is unavailable. It can be deployed in clinics; airports; schools; telemedicine networks, and can aid public health surveillance by facilitating continuous monitoring among high-risk populations and post-treatment recovery assessment. Air quality tracker DeTecX, another Accubits Invent product, is an air-quality and hygiene monitoring system tailored for hospitals and high-traffic public spaces. It tackles hospital-acquired infections by detecting airborne pathogens and microbial contamination and made available through colour-coded alerts. Its scope also extends across agriculture and precision farming, as well as industrial and transportation applications. Published on November 4, 2025
