Coronavirus: Israel launches pilot for innovative saliva PCR test

• Published date: 07 October 2021
• Author: ROSSELLA TERCATIN
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The standard PCR test technology used in Israel and in the rest of the world entails the use of a nose/mouth swab and takes at least several hours to be processed and offer results.

The saliva test was developed by Bar Ilan's Dr. Amos Danieli with the cooperation and financial backing of the Health Ministry. In laboratory conditions, its accuracy proved similar to that of regular swab tests.

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The pilot will take place for about two weeks at the testing station in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. Participants of different ages will undergo both a regular and a saliva test.

Also on Thursday, the data in Israel continued to improve.

Some 2,369 cases were registered on Wednesday, with 2.3% of the 110,000 people screened testing positive.

Serious patients stood at 475; two weeks earlier there were 731.

At the same time, according to a report by Channel 12, the number of patients in critical conditions on heart-lung ECMO machines reached 58, marking a new record and creating problems of shortages in some hospitals. Some 90% of them are not vaccinated, 5% are in the process of being vaccinated, and 5% are vaccinated without a booster.

The country currently has some 33,000 active cases, down from over 80,000 at the peak of the fourth wave.

In light of the encouraging...