FDA Approves COVID-19 Saliva Test Funded by NBA & NBPA

Per the latest reports, the FDA has approved the new saliva-based COVID-19 test, which is funded by NBA & NBPA and developed by Yale University. The test is known as SalivaDirect and it has been given emergency authorization for the public used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. SalivaDirect has been created for coronavirus screening, which will cost somewhere between $15-$20.

The saliva testing is a breakthrough, which will allow consumers to self-test getting results within minutes unlike waiting for days. For now, the saliva samples will have to be sent to the laboratory for testing, it can be done by consumers themselves in the future. The most amazing news is that this self-screening will reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Anne Wyllie on SalivaDirect.

Anne Wyllie who is an associate professor at the Yale School of public health says it can cost as much as $10 for the test. The NBA players have given their samples for the experiment in late June. FDA in a statement said "meaning that designated laboratories could follow the protocol to obtain the required components and perform the test in their lab according to Yale’s instructions for use."

It would be altruistic as Yale and its researchers are not looking out for any kind of profit. The laboratory development and validation were taken by the adjunct assistant clinical professor Doug Brackney & Yale postdoctoral fellow Chantal Vogels. Researchers have been looking out to devise COVID-19 tests that involve as few instruments as possible to be introduced in the body, as in the case of the nasopharyngeal swabbing method and the ones that are less expensive. SalivaDirect can be a great resource to fulfill the shortage of testing kits and other testing methods.

In a statement, Stephen M. Hahn, FDA Commissioner said that “Providing this type of flexibility for processing saliva samples to test for COVID-19 infection is groundbreaking regarding efficiency and avoiding shortages of crucial test components like reagents.”

FDA’s criteria & SalivaDirect.

The data that has been submitted by the Yale School of Public Health is in line with the emergency use authorization criterion. The results obtained from SalivaDirect have been validated which yield similar results as does nasopharyngeal testing.

SalivaDirect has been created taking into account the huge demand coming from the NBA for a less invasive testing solution for players and staff. It also came as a result of the strong desire to contribute to the public especially the low-income communities. The common interest of both NBA & the Yale School of Public Health to bring out something less invasive & less expensive for the public gave way to SalivaDirect.

With an immense need to keep the players & staff members safe from COVID-19, more than 19,000 tests are being conducted every week across various sports leagues including MLB, NBA & MLS. In a statement, Joe Rogowski, the medical chief of NBPA said that “Not only does it offers the potential for players to have an alternative method of testing within the NBA Campus in Orlando, but more importantly it allows them to leverage their regular testing to make a larger contribution to public health in the fight against this virus."