A team of Japanese scientists has created a prototype for a mask filter that glows under ultraviolet light and reveals traces of the COVID-19 virus if the wearer is infected.

日本的一个科学家团队日前研发出了一款口罩过滤片样品，如果佩戴者感染了新冠病毒，这款口罩就会在紫外线灯照射下发光，提示病毒的存在。

Scientists from Kyoto Prefectural University say that the masks contain an additional filter within its layers.

京都府立大学的科学家称，他们制作出的这款口罩内含有一层额外的过滤片。

When removed and sprayed with a fluorescent dye containing antibodies, the filter will glow under UV light if traces of the COVID-19 virus are detected.

把这层过滤片取出来喷上含有新冠抗体的荧光染料后，如果接触到新冠病毒，这层过滤片就能在紫外灯照射下发光。

Speaking to Japanese news outlet Kyodo News, researcher Yasuhiro Tsukamoto said that he conducted experiments with 32 people infected with COVID-19 over a 10-day time frame.

研究员冢元安弘告诉日本共同社说，他在10天时间内对32名新冠病毒感染者开展了实验。

The researchers found that the masks worn by these 32 testers glowed brightly and showed traces of the COVID-19 virus after being sprayed with the antibody spray and held under a UV light.

结果发现，32名测试者佩戴过的口罩在喷洒过抗体喷雾后能在紫外灯下发出亮光，表明口罩上有新冠病毒。

Tsukamoto's team also noted that the glow faded over time as the patients recovered and their viral load decreased.

冢元安弘的团队还指出，随着患者康复，病毒载量降低，口罩发出的光也会减弱。