By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – Tabbed as a “game-changer” by Gov. Pritzker, a Bloomington doctor, says the new University of Illinois COVID-19 saliva-based test could change Coronavirus testing worldwide.
The Illinois-developed tests, called I-COVID, requires individuals to drool into a test tube. U. of I. researchers say test results then come within hours. The University has also implemented other mitigation’s such as a new smartphone application that allows students access to buildings if the app shows the student tested negative for COVID-19.
“It’s where you invest your resources and energy, and that was their thought out mitigation strategy. There’s plenty of Universities that have followed other lines of thought or rationale that are do not require them to invest the amount of money that the U of I had to spend on this,” OSF General Surgeon Dr. Wieland told WJBC’s, Scott Miller. “But at the same time, what remains to be seen is despite all those measures what the ultimate outcome will be. And you are not going to know for several months or a couple of semesters honestly.”
Last Wednesday, the federal government announced Emergency Use Authorization for the new saliva test. The tests are also free for students at the Chicago and Springfield campuses.
LISTEN: OSF General Surgeon Dr. Wieland spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller about the new saliva-based testing at the University of Illinois.
“The universities and any school system that figures it out and can show that data, there will be a model that will be rapidly followed and copied and replicated all over the country if not all over the world.”
The U. of I. has invested around $6 million into the saliva testing program.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
