COVID-19 At-Home Saliva Test Receives Emergency Authorization

The first at-home saliva test for COVID-19 received emergency authorization from the United States Food and Drug Administration on May 8. The test, produced by RUCDR Infinite Biologics out of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey, can now be sold for at-home use. With a cost of approximately $100, the tests must be prescribed by a healthcare provider and are recommended only for those who have COVID-19 symptoms. Patients need only to spit into a tube and then ship the secured tube back to the lab, with results ready within 48 hours. The current standard of care for testing is to have a healthcare provider swab deep into a patient’s nasal cavity, which is uncomfortable for some and painful to others. Experts hope the at-home test can broaden screening efforts for the novel coronavirus. Read more here.

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