New Saliva‑Based Covid Test Gets the Nod from NHS
The UK government’s latest bang‑for‑the‑buck test, the RT‑Lamp from OptiGene, is proving it can spot infections without even bothering you with a swab. That’s a win for those who find nasal swabs a bit too uncomfortable.
How the Test Works
The LAMP technology – that’s “loop‑mediated isothermal amplification” in linguistic shorthand – basically heats up the sample, amplifies the viral genetic material, and gets results way faster than the old‑school PCR gold standard.
Southampton Pilot Success
- Participants: Health‑care staff + 55,000 university folks
- Setup: Four different configurations using both swabs and saliva
- Speed: Faster results, no trade‑off on accuracy
Performance Numbers
According to the Ministry of Health:
- Overall Sensitivity: 79 % — picks up 79 % of real infections
- Overall Specificity: 100 % — no false positives (phew!)
When the viral load was higher, the numbers went up even more:
- Saliva: 94 %
- Swabs: 100 %
In plain English: this test is excellent at catching those most likely to spread the virus, and it’s super safe as it almost never flags healthy folks as infected.
Reaction from the Community
Professor Keith Godfrey from the University of Southampton says the saliva project got a huge thumbs up from students, parents, and staff alike. The drool‑free approach has made testing less intimidating and more accessible.
All Eyes on the Future
The success in Southampton gives the NHS a promising tool for mass testing—especially handy for places like universities and workplaces where easier, faster tests mean fewer missed days and cut‑down on spread.
