Covid-19 saliva testing strategy could mean easy-to-use home device, experts say

Covid-19 saliva testing strategy could mean easy-to-use home device, experts say. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA

A new two-stage coronavirus saliva testing strategy that is simpler and easier to use than nasal swab tests has been developed by scientists.

In the first stage, the virus in saliva is amplified using an isothermal (constant temperature) reaction to give a positive or negative result for Sars-CoV-2 within two hours.