A coronavirus test recently approved by the FDA only requires a patient to spit into a tube, while currently available methods are somewhat invasive.
The Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency approval for the first saliva-based coronavirus test, which could potentially reduce the risk of infection for health care workers while helping to alleviate shortages of medical supplies.
Current testing most commonly involves a long swab being inserted far into a patient's nose or throat and twisted for seconds, which can provoke strong reactions including gags and coughs from some patients, putting health workers at additional risk. "The impact of this approval is significant," he added."It means we no longer have to put health care professionals at risk for infection by performing nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal collections. We can preserve precious personal protective equipment for use in patient care instead of testing. All of this combined will have a tremendous impact on testing in New Jersey and across the United States.
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