The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and LightDeck Diagnostics have partnered to create a six-minute SARS-CoV-2 antigen test, which can be used without a diagnostic laboratory. The point-of-care test can be used for on-site screening of Covid-19 at non-clinical settings, nursing homes, community testing sites, and essential workplaces.
University of Illinois researchers have obtained Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a saliva-based Covid-19 test. The 99% accurate saliva-based test is expanded to all nine other public university campuses and to 48 community colleges. Approximately $20m in federal funds is expected to enable one million Covid-19 tests for Illinois colleges.