New COVID-19 saliva test granted emergency FDA approval

It’s being called a potential game changer in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.

A saliva test could not only slash result wait times, but could also be much cheaper for patients and health care providers.

It is noninvasive and a major money saver and the Food and Drug Administration just granted emergency use authorization for it.

The saliva test offers a fast track to getting results that will meet high demand.

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The results can now be returned as quickly as three hours later in comparison to the often lagging nasal swab which in some instances has taken upward of two weeks.

The saliva test is also much cheaper, costing roughly $10 per sample.

The NBA helped fund the development of the test, they are currently using it for asymptomatic carriers of the coronavirus.

Experts with Allegheny Health Network said the testing would be used for asymptomatic patients trying to get back to work or school but it could make a huge difference in flattening the curve.

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“This type of testing would have the potential to really accelerate the results back to patients. They could do a collection at home potentially. They could do a collection in the presence of health care workers by video,” said Dr. Kelly Stefano, director of microbiology with Allegheny Health Network. 

Channel 11′s Mike Holden is working on finding out when this type of test could be coming to Pittsburgh and talking with people who said they would be first in line to try it for Channel 11 News beginning at 5 p.m. on TV and in our streaming apps.

Local school will test every student for COVID-19 before their return

Cox Media Group