What does the new saliva test for COVID-19 involve, how accurate is it and how does it compare to swab testing?
ABCSo far more than 100 people in Victoria have had a saliva test for coronavirus after the state became the first in Australia to roll out the more pleasant, albeit slightly less exact, option. The institute says the saliva test has a sensitivity of around 87 per cent; in other words, if you 'spit test' 100 people who all have COVID-19, about 13 will be false negatives. "The other thing is, saliva is where the virus ends up before it's transmitted, it's not where it's growing, it's not as direct a test of infection," Professor Turner says. The Doherty Institute says there is no chance a saliva test could return a positive result if the person is COVID-19 negative. "For little kids, which seems to be one of the target audiences here, a saliva test is a much more attractive and agreeable form of collection", Dr Mackay says.
History of this topic
Saliva testing for Covid-19 quicker, safer than nasal swabs: Study
Hindustan Times
Goodbye, nasal swabs? Saliva tests can detect coronavirus infection, studies show
LA TimesCoronavirus testing in Melbourne went down — here's why some Aussies are avoiding the swab
ABC)
Saliva-based COVID-19 diagnosis is cheaper and faster compared to swab testing, say scientists
Firstpost
Coronavirus saliva diagnosis cheaper, faster alternative to swab testing, say scientists
India Today
USFDA clears simple saliva test for faster detection of COVID-19
Live Mint
US coronavirus: Saliva-based Covid-19 test could be a ‘game changer’
CNNVictorian coronavirus cases rise by 75 as Melbourne heads towards second infection peak
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