NBA-Backed Saliva Coronavirus Test Gets Emergency FDA Authorization

TOPLINE

The Food and Drug Administration on Saturday issued an emergency use authorization for a saliva coronavirus test developed by researchers at Yale University and funded by the NBA, providing a possible game-changer to ease cost and supply issues causing dangerous delays with existing tests.

KEY FACTS

Crucial quote

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

Big number

90, that’s how many results SalivaDirect can produce in fewer than three hours in a laboratory, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Key background

After NBA players drew widespread criticism early in the pandemic for having access to tests while the rest of the country was experiencing a shortage, league officials were seeking ways to make testing accessible to the broader public while finding a solution to best test players in the bubble, ESPN reported. When Yale researcher’s initial research into saliva in early April, the NBA decided to form a partnership to fund it.

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