Saliva-based COVID-19 tests approved for state-wide distribution

The highly anticipated saliva-based COVID-19 test, developed by the University of Illinois, has officially been approved for the use of federal emergency-state-wide distribution. 

Since the fall, the U. of I. has used the groundbreaking tests, known as CovidSHIELD, to maintain in-person classes for all three of its campuses, additionally running more than 1.5 million samples to date.

In addition to being quicker, easier and painless, the saliva tests also cost a fraction of the price of traditional nasal swab tests, according to Ben Taylor, a spokesperson for Shield Illinois, the university’s organization in charge of expanding the innovative testing. 

The saliva test, sensitive enough to detect even small amounts of genetic material, including mutations of the SARS-CoV-2, is selling for $20 to public school districts and public universities, $25 for private universities, and $30 to companies, according to university officials.

U. of I. biology student, Elizabeth Kosteck Jr. claims she gets tested every week by the “smooth” and “super quick” test. 

“Getting tested twice a week is part of our routine now,” she said. “It’s [covidSHIELD test] noninvasive with rapid results. You spit about 2 milliliters of saliva into a test tube using a funnel or straw, and bam, I check my results on my app, Safer Illinois, or on the student portal in about 7-10 hours after getting tested. If you’re positive, they’ll call you, and then you would have to quarantine for 14 days.” 

Gov. J.B. Pritzker commended the university’s work as “groundbreaking” and said he is “wasting no time in deploying this technology throughout the state,” already issuing $20 million in efforts to expand the saliva test to nine other public universities and 48 community colleges throughout the state.

While the saliva-based tests are an easy and simple solution for testing in universities, each university still has the nasal swab-testing and it is still up to them to determine how they will handle COVID-19 testing for the spring semester,” a U. of I. spokesperson said.