The REACH initiative’s Dr. Jason Farley and Paul Stamper are working with Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Faculty of the Division of Medical Microbiology to verify if we can test saliva for COVID-19.
Currently diagnosing COVID-19 is an invasive procedure that involves a medical professional inserting a NP (Nasopharyngeal) Swab or NMT (Nasal Mid-Turbinate) Swab (a medium length swab or a very long swab) deep into the patients nose to gather a sample. Dr. Farley, Mr. Stamper, and the REACH initiative team helped collect NP and NMT swabs, along with saliva samples from patients with known positive and negative diagnoses. They are verifying if COVID-19 test kits can detect the virus in saliva, which would mean a less invasive diagnostic procedure.
As Maryland reopens, and eventually as Johns Hopkins Health System reopens (a range of elective procedures have been curtailed during the lockdown), a less invasive testing option will be needed to support the hospital workforce. From Dr. Karen Carroll, “This is a specimen type that we anticipate may be requested for testing large numbers of employees.”
If this test proves accurate, other testing sites may begin their own verification investigations to replicate the procedure.
Read More:
- COVID Considerations
- DNP students are Finalists in the Johns Hopkins CBID COVID-19 Challenge
- Being a Good Neighbor During COVID-19
- COVID Resources at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: SYDNEE LOGAN
Sydnee Logan is the Social Media and Digital Content Coordinator for Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She shares what’s going on with the world.