Minnesota among 3 states chosen for Yale’s saliva COVID-19 test

Minnesota is one of the three states chosen by Yale University to try its saliva-based COVID-19 test.

Thursday, Yale announced it designated three independent labs to perform its SalivaDirect COVID-19 test: Access Medical Laboratories in Florida; Mirimus, Inc. in New York; and Hennepin County Medical Center in Minnesota.

SalivaDirect will be available to residents of those three states by the end of the month, according to Yale.

SalivaDirect was developed by a Yale School of Public Health research team and underwent a pilot program with the NBA, successfully testing asymptomatic people in the league. Minnesota Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Performance and Technology, Dr. Robby Sikka, has been involved in the research and told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS last month that the new saliva test will benefit the entire country.

Timberwolves part of research into faster, cheaper, saliva-based COVID-19 test

"Having seen the ease and effectiveness of using SalivaDirect to test our players and staff for COVID-19 firsthand, I am looking forward to seeing these laboratories help us achieve the overall mission of rolling out an affordable test to the masses, especially those in our most vulnerable communities," said Sikka. "We are proud and excited to see these labs partner with schools and other area organizations to help reduce the spread of COVID-19."

The test received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Aug. 15.