New COVID-19 saliva test effective at finding symptomless cases

A new COVID-19 test that is able to detect even asymptomatic cases of the virus through saliva is being piloted  in the UK.

The new LamPORE test, developed by UK-based company Oxford Nanopore, will be tested in mobile laboratories in four areas across the country. 

It is already being used in Aberdeen, with plans to roll it out in Telford, Brent and Newbury, and results so far have shown it is even effective at detecting the virus in people who are not showing symptoms.

LamPORE will allow for additional testing capacity where it is needed for large numbers of people and be used alongside existing PCR and lateral flow test, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.

Read full story

Source: The Independent, 28 January 2021