What's going on with the covid 19 saliva test?

[BessMarvin]

Near the end of June there was news that a new non invasive style of covid 19 test (testing saliva instead of swabbing) was being trialled in Southampton.

But when I Google it I can only find this information from June.

So what has happened?

The reason I'm wondering is that I have dc1 starting reception, dc2 starting nursery, and the weather's going cold.

This means it's going to be non stop illnesses for ages, cos that's what always happens starting at a new place and it's going to be both of them. And I'm really worrying about traumatising them and me with constantly having to do the existing tests. (Not to mention covering them being off school / nursery till the results are back, and we both work.)

Just wondering if anyone has heard anything as I'd assumed that this newer test would be in place by now?

Bump

This one? (Oxford Nanopore LamPORE test)
www.biotechniques.com/diagnostics-preclinical/oxford-nanopore-makes-deal-with-the-uk-government-to-provide-450000-covid-19-tests/

Also some info here:
edition.cnn.com/2020/08/03/health/90-minute-covid-19-testing-gbr-intl/index.html

I think the UK govt were also looking at the Abbot rapid saliva test from the US.

Thanks for the links.

Both mention LamPORE. I'm not entirely sure if this is it, it mentions swab and saliva, so maybe? There's a bit in the middle of the first article that seems to specifically reference it but it seems sort of separate and links to an article from June.

The trial is entering the next phase but it has to recruit 100s who are willing to have daily swab and saliva for 3 weeks.

Thanks, that sounds like it would be a bit difficult to recruit for.

I don’t think it was the lampore one.

Is it the DNAnudge one?

I don't think so. It says in a link above it analyses nose swabs.

AFAIK it's still ongoing. I believe one of the problems is that there isn't much Covid around so they're getting lots and lots of negatives, but not enough positives to see how well it picks Covid up.

I was also wondering the same OP. I cannot recall the names of each test but both were saliva that gave a rapid result in 90mins and one could also identify flu. The testing machines were heralded as potentially game changing as could be administered in hospitals or locally so cases could be identified quickly and isolated also minimal disruption to schools and businesses if people had quick results.

I believe these are the tests
www.gov.uk/government/news/roll-out-of-2-new-rapid-coronavirus-tests-ahead-of-winter

Both of the quick response tests referred to above in the link talk about testing swabs. (One also says and saliva but nothing about whether this form of collection is happening.)

It's all so confusing.

What I've read about is this www.gov.uk/government/news/new-saliva-test-for-coronavirus-piloted-in-southampton but not heard anything since.

From the link above:

"In addition to the new application of using saliva from Optigene being piloted in Southampton, we are currently exploring the potential of other no-swab saliva-based coronavirus tests with companies, including Chronomics, Avacta, MAP Science and Oxford Nanoimaging (ONI). We are also working with a number of suppliers, including DNA Genotek, International Scientific Supplies Ltd, Isohelix and other leading manufacturers, to develop bespoke saliva collection kits and scale up manufacturing for products that can be used with existing PCR tests."

The OptiGene website says:

"COVID-19 Test Kits
OptiGene Limited COVID-19 Kits are now CE-IVD registered and are now available.
Instructions For Use and MSDS are available here: www.optigene.co.uk/human-diagnostics/
We DO NOT offer a testing service.
PLEASE NOTE: The OptiGene COVID-19 Test Kits require a trained operator in a controlled environment. It is NOT a lateral flow device or designed to be used by the general public.

For all COVID-19 Kit enquiries, please contact webenquiries AT optigene.co.uk "
www.optigene.co.uk

However the news section of their website has not been updated since April, when there was an article (press release) about them developing the 20 minute swab test.

www.optigene.co.uk/news/

So I am not sure what happened with the trial or if it was up to standard, but it looks like the government is also looking at other similar options including the ones mentioned in previous posts...

Thank you Coffee

I'd just really like to hear that they are going to start using this type of test ASAP. I got excited for a moment on the chronomics site because it has a buy individual test link. Then in that it says not available

www.chronomics.com/coronavirus

I think saliva tests are the biggest game changer, even more than the quick turnaround ones. Particularly for those of us with children, or adults with issues sticking things down their throat.

I am actually more desperate for this than the vaccine.

I caught the tail end of an interview with a dr from the BMJ on the radio today talking about the rapid saliva test that costs £1. He said the government are looking to use 10 million a day in the coming months and the costs will be lower still once mass use is in place. Agree this could be the game changer.

@IrisPurple

I think saliva tests are the biggest game changer, even more than the quick turnaround ones. Particularly for those of us with children, or adults with issues sticking things down their throat.

I am actually more desperate for this than the vaccine.

Yes definitely. This is my "once we have these tests rather than the existing ones I will attempt to be happy and make the best of things but until then I'm just so worried and stressed about traumatising my children" place.

I'd like to know too.
I'm sure I read weeks ago about the US approving them for use there. I wish we'd get on with rolling them out too. I hate the thought of jamming something up my nose and throat. The discomfort is presumably why we get so many false negatives.

I have been waiting for this too. I have to have a covid test every week because of my job and they're really unpleasant, something that you just don't 'get used to' hopefully they get them going really soon

@flipperfloppers

I have been waiting for this too. I have to have a covid test every week because of my job and they're really unpleasant, something that you just don't 'get used to' hopefully they get them going really soon

That must be miserable. Even if you're an adult and can understand why it needs to happen, doesn't make it nice.

There's mention of further trials in Southampton and Salford in this article www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-54006331

From the Guardian:

^This morning Matt Hancock, the health secretary for England, did a round of media interviews partly to promote the announcement that the government is spending £500m piloting new approaches to testing. This includes further work on a saliva test that can tell people within 20 minutes whether they have coronavirus. Hancock did not set a date for when this would be available, but he said that it could be widely available over the coming weeks and months. (See 7.38am.)

But, at the Scottish government’s news conference earlier (see 1.35pm) Prof Jason Leitch, the Scottish government’s national clinical director, said he did not think this particular test would work. And although he said the potential benefits of a test like this were considerable, he expressed doubts about how viable this would be in practice. He said:

This particular pilot and prototype - it’s going to be Salford and I think Southampton, Southampton have been involved in some early trials of mass city testing - I don’t think this test will be the one.

But, in a slightly fictional world, thinking forward, if you had a non-invasive, fast, home test, then you can imagine what that might be able to do. If it’s specific, then that may be able to tell you that today you are virus free, and if you could do it again tomorrow, then you would be virus free.

But think of the logistics of that. Just in our country, that is enormous. And the whole world would want that. So there is something in it, for certain. But the logistics and the science are behind.^

Hmm that sounds positive to start with but then not so much.