First Saliva Test for COVID-19 Approved for Emergency Use by FDA

The search for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 60 saliva samples yielded the same results as conventional nasal swab tests taken from the same patients.

Written byLisa Winter

| 2 min read

Save for Later

Listen with Speechify

0:00

2:00

ABOVE: PHOTO COURTESY OF SPECTRUM SOLUTIONS

There are now more options for COVID-19 testing as the US Food and Drug Administration gave emergency use authorization on April 13 for a saliva-based test, providing an alternative to the swab testing currently performed.

“You want to be in all types of situations with all types of options so that we can have as much testing as possible in whatever form is suitable,” Amesh Adalja, who works on infectious disease and pandemic preparedness at Johns Hopkins University and is not involved with the development of the test, tells the Associated Press.

Currently, testing for COVID-19 involves a healthcare professional inserting a swab into each nostril, one at a time, to the nasopharynx at the back of the nasal cavity, gently scraping the tissue to collect material, and sending off for analysis, according to UC Davis Health. This method is cumbersome as it needs ...

Interested in reading more?

The Scientist ARCHIVES

Become a Member of

Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!

Join for free today

Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

Lisa Winter
Lisa joined The Scientist in 2017. As social media editor, some of her duties include creating content, managing interactions, and developing strategies for the brand’s social media presence. She also contributes to the News & Opinion section of the website. Lisa holds a degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in genetics, cell, and developmental biology from Arizona State University and has worked in science communication since 2012.
View Full Profile