Sunday, August 16, 2020

Some Good News on the Pandemic Front


The US FDA has approved a new Covid-19 detection test that is said to be less costly, fast, more accurate and, best of all, non-invasive.
COVID-19 saliva test is being lauded by public health officials as a way for more people to get quick and accurate results in coronavirus testing, even if the patients are asymptomatic
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for the coronavirus saliva test today, Saturday, August 15, 2020. The test, called SalivaDirect, uses a new method of processing saliva samples in COVID-19 testing.
The new COVID-19 saliva test, SalivaDirect, was described as “groundbreaking” by public health officials. It is being touted as a less expensive way to test, in a less invasive manner, which also reduces the risk of contagion to medical professionals.
Researchers at Yale teamed up with players in the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) to develop the new coronavirus testing method, which is considered to be a breakthrough. The goal was “to study the efficacy of a saliva-based method that quickly determines if someone is infected with the novel coronavirus,” Yale said in a statement provided to USA Today in June.
The cost for tests (administered by US "for profit" labs) is expected to be about $10 each. 

2 comments:

Owen Gray said...

It's about time there was a little good news. But I doubt that Trump will profit from it.

The Disaffected Lib said...

I would expect this testing will be left to the states, those that show as much interest in controlling the pandemic as in opening their economies. This is one situation where ignorance is definitely not bliss and accurate tracking and tracing can help, not harm, the economy.