Cristina Davis

Abstract We have engineered, fabricated, and qualified ZAPPI (Zonal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Ionizer), an array of hollow electrical discharge emitter micro needles for volatile organic compound ionization and detection. The device is optimized for portable applications requiring low power and trace analyte abundance. The 250 µm interelectrode gap requires just 1.1 mW, detecting analytes at \(\dot{m}=23{ng}{s}^{-1}\) mass flow rates.

Presently, in order to check the level of opioid drugs in a person's bloodstream, a blood sample must be taken. Things may soon be getting much less invasive, however, as scientists have now developed a breath test that does the job. The system was developed by a team at the University of California-Davis, led by postdoctoral researcher Eva Borras and Prof. Cristina Davis. People who are being tested start by breathing normally, into a collection device.