First Step Towards a Spray Test for Asbestos

When asbestos is suspected on a construction or demolition site, work typically grinds to a halt until samples have been taken, sent to a lab and analysed – often resulting in costly downtime and uncertainty. With a laboratory proof-of-concept, ASPRAY and the Danish Technological Institute aim to find out whether a simple foam spray using aptamer technology can give a clear yes/no answer on asbestos – as the first step towards a fast, visual field tool.

Asbestos stops without quick answers

During demolition and renovation, even a suspicion of asbestos is enough to pause projects, because the risk to workers and the surrounding environment is serious. Today, clarification usually requires sampling, laboratory analysis and waiting time, and there is no simple, instrument-free yes/no tool that can be used directly on site. This leads to delays, extra costs and, in some cases, the temptation to keep working before the risk has been properly assessed.

Liquid or foam spray with visual signal

The project investigates whether an aptamer, an artificial molecule designed to bind to a specific target, such as asbestos, can bind selectively to asbestos fibres while providing a clear visual yes/no signal. Together with the Danish Technological Institute, 1–2 aptamer candidates will be developed and selected, then tested in a simple laboratory setup where, for example, a colour change or fluorescence in a foam or liquid formulation can be seen with the naked eye. The goal is a laboratory proof-of-concept (PoC) with documentation, experimental design and a short SOP, demonstrating that the technology can subsequently be translated into a practical field product.

From lab proof to on-site tool

In the short term, the goal is to move the technology from early concept (TRL 2) to an experimental PoC (TRL 3) that documents selective aptamer binding to asbestos and delivers a clear visual signal in the lab. This evidence base will be crucial for raising follow-up funding for formulation, robustness testing, field trials and later certification. In the longer term, the vision is to develop a modular foam spray platform where the aptamer library can be extended to other substances such as PCB or lead giving contractors and consultants a fast, safe and affordable screening tool that reduces both downtime and exposure on construction sites.