PNOE launches self-serve version of its lab-grade breath-testing mask

PNOE, a startup based in Malden, Massachusetts, is launching a self-serve version of its breath-analyzing face mask on October 1, according to a report from TechCrunch.

The new version is described as sleeker than the company's earlier design, which had drawn comparisons to the mask worn by a well-known comic-book villain. Unlike that earlier iteration, the updated mask is built to let users operate it themselves, without requiring a trained technician to administer the test.

According to the report, the mask allows gym-goers to measure their VO2 max, a common indicator of aerobic fitness and cardiovascular health, along with other metabolic markers, in a session lasting about eight minutes.

Breath analysis of this kind has traditionally been available mainly through specialized labs or clinical settings, often requiring appointments with trained staff to properly fit equipment and interpret readings. A self-serve version aimed at general gym users would mark a shift toward making this type of metabolic testing more accessible outside clinical or research environments.

The report describes the October 1 release as a limited rollout, though further details on pricing, the specific gyms or fitness chains involved, or the broader commercial rollout plan were not included in the available reporting.