The NBA has recently funded a saliva-based coronavirus test that was developed at Yale University. Due to its cost-effective production, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorization allowing public use.
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According to ESPN, the groundbreaking test known as SalivaDirect was developed for widespread public screening and each cost per sample is $4. However, the cost for consumers might be priced between $15 to $20 when made available to the public. The test was first administered to a group that included several NBA players and staff then compared to the results to nasal swab test results. Based on the data, the results from both tests had a match.
Currently, the leading coronavirus tests developed by Rutgers University costs up to $150 even though the price can be reduced to $60 to $70 due to certain circumstances. This test can be taken at home and results can develop within a 24 to 48-hour time frame.
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Assistant Epidemiology professor Nathan Grubaugh said in a statement that the test can provide results within a few hours but the only issue is extracting RNA from various samples. His goal is to test everyone and the NBA will not receive any profits from the sales.
“My target population is everybody. There were concerns about partnering with the NBA when all these other people need testing. But the simple answer ended up being the NBA was going to do all this testing anyway, so why not partner with them and try to create something for everyone?”
He also added about his experience meeting Robby Sikka, vice president of basketball performance and technology for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The two came across each other after Sikka noticed Yale’s findings of the virus and testing. Soon after he came in contact with the league’s senior vice president David Weiss.
“I was hesitant. We do research. We are not developers of diagnostics. But this was an opportunity. They were willing to fund it. This is a crazy time for everyone anyway. I studied mosquitoes before this.”
The university and NBA officials have spoken with a lab to speed up production for tests and are considering pool saliva testing.