FDA allowing saliva-based test funded by NBA https://t.co/quNPACHzta
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) August 15, 2020
“(The Yale test) loses a little bit of sensitivity, but what we gain is speed and that it should be up to 10 times cheaper,” Grubaugh said. The Yale test replaces the extraction step with the introduction of a reagent — chemicals mixed with the saliva sample — and a short heating process that releases the virus genome. The team found successful results using reagents that are commonly available, meaning labs everywhere could implement the Yale protocol, Grubaugh said.
“My goal is not to test athletes,” Grubaugh said. “That’s not my target population. My target population is everybody. There were concerns about partnering with the NBA when all these other people need testing. But the simple answer ended up being the NBA was going to do all this testing anyway, so why not partner with them and try to create something for everyone?”
This is exactly the kind of inexpensive daily test we need right now for every person returning to work or kid getting ready to go back to school. Kudos to the NBA and NBPA for their effort and help in developing it.