Coronavirus testing is still a problem in some countries of the world due to shortages and delays. However, this new saliva testing provides a fast and cheaper option to detect coronavirus.

According to the International news agency, researchers from the Yale School of Public Health created an effective SalivaDirect test. This test has been authorized for emergency use from the Food and Drug Administration.
Adm. Brett Giroir, the US official in charge of Covid-19 testing efforts, said, “The SalivaDirect test for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 [the novel coronavirus] is yet another testing innovation game-changer that will reduce the demand for scarce testing resources”.

Researchers said that the new test can detect the virus and provide authentic results in less than three hours. It will be made available to the public in the coming weeks.

Groups included NBA funded research for the test and it currently uses the method to test for nonsymptomatic carriers of the virus.

This saliva test does not need a certain swab or collection device, unlike others.

“We simplified the test so that it only costs a couple of dollars for reagents, and we expect that labs will only charge about $10 per sample,” said Nathan Grubaugh, a Yale assistant professor of epidemiology.

“If cheap alternatives like SalivaDirect can be implemented across the country, we may finally get a handle on this pandemic, even before a vaccine.”