CHICAGO — A big breakthrough as it relates to COVID-19 testing was announced Wednesday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
“The University of Illinois has been granted emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to run their saliva-based COVID-19 test,” said Pritzker.
According to Pritzker, saliva-based testing is much better than traditional testing in many areas.
“Illinois’ saliva test is less expensive, faster, and requires significantly less raw materials than traditional testing,” said Pritzker.
Pritkzer added that gaining authorization to perform saliva-based tests in Illinois puts the state on the “cutting edge” nationally as it relates to COVID-19 testing.
“If ongoing research continues to yield positive results, this has potentially game-changing implications for our statewide testing complex as well as for testing on a national level,” said Pritzker.
University of Illinois President Tim Killeen said that the university has already tested more than 50,000 students and staff.
Killeen also said the test is especially useful in identifying carriers of the virus who aren’t showing symptoms.
The state and U of I are working together to make the test available to other colleges as well as K through 12 schools and long-term care facilities.
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