Covid Rapid Test Near Me

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

SALIVA COVID TEST

MEDNOW LABS IS NOW
OFFERING THE SALIVA COVID
TEST!

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Instead of administering this test with a nasopharyngeal swab ﴾nasal
swab﴿, we offer a saliva based covid testing alternative. Simply fill up
the tube with 2ML of saliva using the blue funnel provided and
you're all set! 

CAN YOU EAT OR DRINK PRIOR TO A
SALIVA COVID TEST? 

No, you cannot eat or drink 60 minutes prior to administering the
Saliva test. This is imperative for the accuracy of the results. 

HOW LONG DO SALIVA COVID TEST
RESULTS TAKE? 

Our saliva tests typically take longer to process than Nasal swab
tests. You should receive results via email in 36‐48 hours.   

HOW ACCURATE IS THE SALIVA
COVID TEST? 

The saliva test is actually still an RT‐PCR Covid test, the only
difference is the specimen collection method. So, it's still the gold
standard for testing and delivers 99% accuracy. 

Find a MedNow site near you and come get your free pcr saliva test

today! 

 

MORE INFORMATION 

 

 

With the emergence of variants of coronavirus, including Delta and
Omicron, the need to increase the testing capacity is higher than ever
before. The high transmissibility rate of the virus makes it crucial for early
detection and treatment. The world has already suffered greatly due to
the unavailability and shortage of necessary COVID testing and treatment
equipment. Further ignorance can lead to horrible disasters, swiping away
hundreds of precious lives.

 

Therefore, researchers and health care experts have been working
tirelessly to enhance testing and treatment facilities for the masses. The
Saliva COVID test is a step forward in this regard.

Adequate testing, prevention, and proper vaccination are the leading
measures to fight the pandemic.

 

However, many people are reluctant to take a COVID test based on nasal
or throat swabs. It can be due to any reason, including any health issue,
or simply due to the uncomfortable nature of the test. In such a situation,
a saliva test proves to be a good option to increase the testing capacity
and encourage more people to take it and the required treatment.

 

The Saliva COVID test is expected to cater to the testing needs and

remove the bottleneck in the testing process since the emergence of the
pandemic. Here are some further details about it.

 

What is the COVID Saliva test?

 

A COVID Saliva test refers to the testing method used for diagnosing
COVID‐19 using saliva of the affected person as a sample. Saliva is one of
the elements with the highest tendency to spread coronavirus, making it
a suitable sample for COVID testing. Several studies in this regard prove it
to be a valuable and effective diagnostic tool for COVID testing as it is
considered a reflection of our health.

 

Using saliva instead of nasal or throat swabs has dual benefits. It proves
to be more comfortable for the people and also, safe for the healthcare
workers. The possibility of coronavirus in the saliva of affected people is
relatively high and confirmed with different studies. A virus may indicate
infiltrated lungs that are difficult to detect through a nasopharyngeal
swab test. COVID‐19 is found to cause the most damage to infiltrated
lungs. Early detection through tests might help limit the magnitude of
damage caused by COVID‐19.

 

Accuracy of the Test

The first question that comes to minds after hearing about the simple
Saliva COVID test is regarding the accuracy of results. The sample is the
only difference between a Nasopharyngeal swab ﴾NP﴿ test and a Saliva
COVID test. The rest of the process follows the same suite. Several
studies, including the one at Harvard Medical School, endorsed saliva as a
sample for COVID testing. Results produced by this test are comparable
to those produced by the NP swab test, with a probability of detecting
the virus 90% times.

 

Moreover, clinical trials also prove it an effective testing measure of the
coronavirus. Saliva is a better correlative of significant parameters,
including immunity, disease severity, and impact of demographic
variables on the vulnerability to disease. The results are also highly
accurate except for the cases where there is an inadequate sample
collection.

 

Why is the Saliva Test Needed?

Soon after the pandemic outbreak, it was identified that testing was
crucial for the early diagnosis of the disease. It can ultimately limit the
spread over a large population. However, the NP testing method used
during earlier times had many limitations. Despite the logistical
challenges, there was a shortage of protective gears and other necessary
equipment, making it difficult to achieve the testing requirements.

 

Moreover, the prevalent testing practices were quite costly, and
healthcare professionals were continuously looking for a cost‐effective,
quick, and simple testing method to increase the testing capacity. After
extensive research and trials, experts introduced the COVID Saliva test
that uses saliva as the testing sample for quick and easy detection of the
virus.

 

How Does It Work?

Whether you are doing a self‐administered test or collecting a sample at
a test site, you must make sure the suitable collection of the sample is to
enhance the validity of the test. Although the process is simple, you
should make sure to follow the proper procedure. It would hardly take
15‐20 minutes to collect enough samples. Here is a guide on collecting
the sample for the Saliva COVID test.

the sample for the Saliva COVID test.

Take the test tube and uncover it. If your test tube comes with a
straw, place it inside too.
Sit in a relaxed position with an uncovered mouth. Let saliva gather in
your mouth and avoid swallowing it.
Bend your mouth over the test tube and let saliva go straight into it
from your mouth. Do not spit or throw it forcefully.
Keep repeating the drill until you reach the required level.
Cover the test tube properly so that the saliva does not slip out and
hand it over to the health care professional.
If you are doing it at home, safely place the test tube aside for
testing.
Make sure to wash your hands before and after collecting the
sample.

Once you handle the sample to healthcare workers, they test it using the
essential enzymes or reagents and provide you with an online or physical
report within 48‐72 hours.

 

Key Benefits

The saliva‐based test for the diagnosis of COVID‐19 has been termed as a
“game‐changer” in the war against COVID. It has become a widely
adopted testing method due to the compelling benefits provided by this
testing method. Some of the benefits are discussed here.

 

Self‐Administration

By far, the most significant benefit of the COVID saliva test is that it does
not necessarily require patients to go to a clinic for sample collection. It
facilitates individuals by enabling them to collect their testing sample

independently, under adequate instructions. So, you can collect your
saliva at home and send it for medical examination.

Less Exposure for Health Care Workers

Due to the epidemic nature of COVID‐19, health experts suggest
reducing physical interaction as much as possible to reduce the risk of
catching the virus. Health professionals are more prone to the virus
during the nasal swab test where they contact the potentially affected
patient. However, saliva tests are convenient as they limit the physical
interaction between health workers and individuals.

Quick and Simple

Unlike other testing methods, the saliva‐based COVID test does not
involve any complicated procedure. It is quite an easy‐to‐go and
straightforward process. Also, it is pretty quick, saving a lot of time for
individuals and health professionals. The elimination of the need for face‐
to‐face interaction between health care workers and patients minimizes
the risk of transmitting the disease at both ends. Moreover, the sample
can be collected easily by the person himself without a professional.

Optimal Use of Personal Protective Equipment

One of the significant issues that emerged with the break out of the
pandemic was the shortage of personal protective equipment. They are
crucial for the safety of health care workers. COVID saliva tests reduce the
need for personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals as
face‐to‐face contact is not necessary. Resultantly, optimal use of this
equipment can be made possible by saving it for more crucial situations.

Early Prediction of Severity

According to research conducted by Yale School of Medicine, saliva‐
based COVID‐19 test is likely to predict the severity of the disease among
patients at an early stage. An early prediction would result in early
medication and, most probably, an early cure. It will prove to be a

breakthrough if medical experts can know which patients need
immediate treatment.

Suitable for Children, Aged and Disabled

The process of sample collection through nasopharyngeal swabs is quite
uncomfortable and invasive. Therefore, not considered suitable for
children, elderly people, and those with specific disabilities. Such persons
are sensitive and thus more prone to catching the virus. A saliva‐based
test facilitates sample collection of children and others uncomfortable
with the nasal swab sampling process.

Reliability

The results yielded with saliva COVID tests are as reliable as those with
nasopharyngeal swab tests. The saliva collected as a sample is tested the
same way as nasal mucus and, in some cases, provides even more
accurate results. However, if the sample is not collected appropriately, it
might not yield the desired results.

Downsides of COVID Saliva Test

 

Besides being highly effective for COVID testing, the Saliva COVID test
also has its downsides. The false‐negative rate of this test appears to be
higher than that of the nasal or throat swab test. Although there is a
possibility of a false‐negative rate in every testing method, the Saliva
COVID test has a high tendency in this regard. The person being tested
must be made aware of the possible false‐negative rate so that he
observes preventive measures to limit the spread of the disease to others.

 

Another problem that might arise due to the lack of experience or
expertise of the professionals conducting the test is that they might not
know the operating characteristics of the test. During a Saliva COVID test,
three different types of fluids are collected in saliva. If the testing

professionals are inexperienced, they might not produce accurate results.

Things to Remember

It would help if you considered certain things before taking a saliva
COVID test.

Before the test, it is better to drink a lot of water and stay hydrated.
Start drinking more water a day before the test and continue until
you are ready for sample collection.
If you want to eat anything, eat it until 30 minutes left for the test.
Similarly, stop drinking half an hour before.
Avoid smoking or consuming alcohol before the test. It would affect
the quality of the sample and may produce ambiguous results.
You should not use any kind of toothpaste, mouthwash, sprays, or
chewing gum before the test. Otherwise, food particles would
contaminate the sample.
While collecting saliva in your mouth for sampling, avoid sniffing or
coughing.
Your sample should contain liquid saliva without any bubbles.
In case of sampling another person, using a face mask and gloves is
mandatory.

 

Applicability of The Test

 

Saliva testing is considered an appealing alternative to Nasopharyngeal
swab testing despite the difference in sensitivity. Although saliva is less
sensitive than the mucus collected through NP swab, it is still quite
beneficial and yields almost similar results.

 

For Symptomatic Individuals

For Symptomatic Individuals

If Nasopharyngeal swab testing is not available for symptomatic
individuals, Saliva testing can be a close alternative. It is better to carry
out this test within five days of the appearance of symptoms for better
examination.

 

For Asymptomatic Individuals

COVID Saliva test is more convenient and beneficial for asymptomatic
individuals who can carry out tests repeatedly whenever needed. Working
women or men who need to ensure safety due to occupational reasons
can benefit from this saliva test in the comfort of their homes. Repeated
tests increase the likelihood of detection of the virus despite the
specimen being comparatively less sensitive.

 

For Children

Children are more uncomfortable and irritated with NP swab tests due to
their invasive nature. The saliva test is an easy alternative for children.
However, proper sampling under the supervision of an adult must be
ensured. Otherwise, the probability of getting reliable results would be
quite low.

 

Final Words

Although health professionals use several PCR tests, there is still no
perfect COVID‐19 test available. However, the prevalent methods,
including swab tests and saliva tests, are highly effective in serving the
purpose of COVID testing.

 

According to professionals, there is a need to significantly increase the

According to professionals, there is a need to significantly increase the
testing capacity to fight against the pandemic, and the Saliva COVID test
helps step forward towards the goal. It is simple, economical, and equally
effective in detecting the infection besides being comfortable. However,
effective results can be yielded when the testing process is under experts'
supervision.

 

WRITTEN BY MEDNOW LABS

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