Saliva-based Test Kit Show Accuracy of 97.8%
The Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI) announced on Feb. 17 that it has developed a gargle for early COVID-19 diagnosis in cooperation with Bio3S and Jeonbuk National University Hospital.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, where coronavirus bonding can occur, can be found in quantity in the human oral cavity. This means an infected person’s oral cavity is where a large amount of coronavirus can be found. However, the accuracy of saliva-based tests has been doubted because the virus is unlikely to come out of the cavity simply by spitting.
According to the institute, the gargle is capable of overcoming this limitation. “We conducted clinical trials on those infected for less than six days and our saliva-based test kit showed an accuracy of 97.8 percent,” it said, adding, “In addition, the safety of the biosubstances of the gargle has already been proved by the Korea Institute of Toxicology.”
Bio3S, which is a company spun off from the KBSI, is planning to turn the gargle into a medical product as soon as possible so that the discomfort, inconvenience, sensitivity limitations and costs entailed by existing test methods can be dealt with better.