FDA authorizes new COVID-19 saliva test pioneered by Yale, the NBA

Saliva Direct could cost less than $10

DETROIT – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorization for Yale University’s coronavirus test, Saliva Direct.

This test is different for a number of reasons, the most obvious being it’s a less invasive saliva test that doesn’t require the use of swabs

Aug. 17, 2020 -- Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 93,185; Death toll now at 6,325

It was developed in a partnership between Yale University and the NBA. Experts are hoping it will make testing more easily available.

Patients collect their own sample by spitting into a tube. Saliva Direct uses a simplified testing method that cuts the turnaround time to less than 24 hours.

The test could cost less than $10, making it more affordable to test more people more often.

The NBA and players’ union gave more than half a million dollars to fund the development of the test.

Some players, coaches and staff participated in the initial testing. Researchers said the accuracy of the Saliva Direct results matched almost perfectly with the group’s swab tests.

The Saliva Direct test is simple enough to be used by labs everywhere, once they go through the required accreditation process.

Yale and the NBA do not intend to take any royalties from the testing method, making it available for free.

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About the Authors:

You can watch Kimberly Gill weekdays anchoring Local 4 News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. and streaming live at 10 p.m. on Local 4+. She's an award-winning journalist who finally called Detroit home in 2014. Kim has won Regional Emmy Awards, and was part of the team that won the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast in 2022.

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.