So far, the most prominent method for diagnosing COVID-19 has been the use of cotton swabs pressed into the naval cavity. This process has been described by many as quite painful and makes testing scary. However, some researchers have been researching methods of using saliva to diagnose COVID-19.
For example, researchers at Hokkaido University in Japan have said that studies involving the use of saliva to diagnose COVID-19 have yielded about 90% accuracy. In the United States, newer saliva tests, such as one based on a study at Yale have shown promise with lower error rates than previous versions of the test. While the FDA has approved a number of saliva-based tests, none have managed to achieve the popularity of the nasal swab test, owing in part to accuracy concerns in the widescale use of the saliva test. Some individuals, such as Bobby Brooke Herrera of E25Bio have expressed doubt at the ability for any saliva test to quickly and accurately test for COVID-19 antigens.
There has not been significant patent activity with regards to saliva-based testing for COVID-19, but Chinese Patent No. 111366556, filed in April of 2020, mentions utilizing terahertz radiation, which lies between microwave and infrared radiation, to test saliva samples for COVID-19. It remains to be seen whether more companies move in to try to patent their own quicker, less expensive, or more reliable saliva tests in the future.
For more updates on new methods of COVID-19 testing, check out the free interactive visual Pandemics Patent Forecast® offered by Magic Number®.
