Now you can be tested for the coronavirus by just spitting into a test tube.
A new saliva-based COVID-19 test rolled out in New Jersey Wednesday can yield results within 48 hours, and spares potential patients from having a swab jammed deep into the back of their noses or throats, according to a new report.
The test, developed by Rutgers University and approved earlier this week by the US Food and Drug Administration, is expected to dramatically increase the number of residents that can be screened for the deadly pandemic, ABC-TV News reported.
“We’ve been given clear direction to produce as many as possible,” Nicholas Melchiaorre, manager at Rutgers’ Clinical Genomics Lab, told the news network.
The pain-free procedure calls for residents to spit into a test tube, which is then sealed and tagged with their name and date of birth. The sample is then sent to either Rutgers’ lab or at a Spectrum Solutions and Accurate Diagnostic’s Lab in South Plainfield for analysis, the station said. Results come back in 24 to 48 hours.
The procedure also limits exposure for health care workers collecting samples, who are not required to lean into cars to collect swab samples.
“How do we come up with ways to mitigate exposure? And we think this is so far the best way,” Malchiaorre said.
The new testing was launched Wednesday at Middlesex County Department of Emergency Management offices on Kilmer Road in Edison, but are being given by appointment only and are limited to county residents, for now, with hopes to expand production, the station said.
It was unclear when or if the new tests would be made available in New York.
The saliva-based test is hoped to replace the current uncomfortable procedure of swabbing patients for samples.
Officials in New York City said Sunday they were likely just days away from running out of the swabs, prompting Mayor Bill de Blasio to announce Tuesday that the Big Apple would start producing its own COVID-19 test kits.