Yale does socialist medicine with new covid test
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- Date published:
11:07 am, August 20th, 2020 - 15 comments
Categories: covid-19, science -
Tags: andy slavitt, covid testing, Yale
Double good news here.
Andrew M. Slavitt, a former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (ex-Obama health care head), tweeted this last week when Yale scientists announced they had FDA Emergency Use Authorization for their new covid test. Not only have Yale developed the test but they’ve developed a system for making the test easily available and cheap.
1. One reason? Saliva.
We already have it. We don’t need to export it from Italy or run out. We don’t need to stick something 4 inches up a kid’s nostril.
But that’s just the start.
— Andy Slavitt 🇮🇱 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) August 15, 2020
They decided not to sell a specialized kit (so they didn’t have anyone run out).
They are turning testing from a bespoke suit to a low cost commodity. I’ve been writing about this goal for months.
— Andy Slavitt 🇮🇱 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) August 15, 2020
3. The most important reason is because the most important testing feature is CADENCE. How frequently can we test people.
At a $10 test, you can test every day or every couple days. This is even more important than accuracy. But on accuracy…
— Andy Slavitt 🇮🇱 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) August 15, 2020
5. This is important because of schools. Universities. Office buildings. For wide testing of asymptomatic people.
They are all getting introduced to the test in the next few weeks.
You can’t spend $100 multiple times/week on a person’s point in time test.
— Andy Slavitt 🇮🇱 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) August 15, 2020
Lots of other good stuff in the whole thread, there’s an unrolled version here.
Slavitt says,
It’s a perfect turn of the road to see if profits or our country are more important.
It does seem remarkable given what is happening in the US. Good on Yale for developing this model and sidestepping Big Pharma and the government interests that favour commerce over people.
This is another example of what we can do when it really matters, and how TINA can be retired if we want to. It also strikes me as what happens when people have their hearts in the right place and I hope this creates some ripple effect within science and university communities.
In a neat US/NZ connection, one of the lead scientists on the project is Kiwi Dr Anne Wiley.
From what I can tell the test will complement rather than replace other kinds of testing, in a more tools in the toolbox kind of way. Tests are to be rolled out over the US over the next few weeks, it’s unclear if/when this will be available internationally.
I saw one tweet this morning saying the new test should be used at New Zealand airports, which I hope means we should integrate the new tech with the same degree of caution and thoughtfulness we’ve applied to the rest of our response. As opposed to say calls to open borders because we have this amazing new test. The test appears to have a similar failure rate as the current swab test, and like all tech will need to be applied in real life situations that are far from perfect. There are no panaceas here and we are still in a marathon not a sprint.
Edit: Epidemiologist, Immunologist and Physician at Harvard School of Public Health & Harvard Med School, Michael Mina, critiques the new test and points to overhype on a number of counts,
The massive confusion created by the media and the announcement of SalivaDirect for #COVID19 testing needs to be cleared up.
— Michael Mina (@michaelmina_lab) August 17, 2020
Yesterday I wrote a long tweet thread about it. The continued frenzy today tells me that extreme confusion persists.
Here goes:
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- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Record number of submissions received on granny flat proposal
Nearly 2,000 submissions have been received on the Government’s proposals aimed at making it easier to build a granny flat of up to 60 square metres without a resource or building consent, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. “This is the highest number ...2 hours ago - District Court Judge appointed
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Rebecca Guthrie as a District Court Judge. Judge Guthrie was admitted to the bar in 1997 following her graduation from the University of Canterbury in 1996 (LLB, BA). She commenced her legal career in Hastings in 1997 before moving to London in ...2 hours ago
- Appointments strengthen Predator Free 2050
The latest Predator Free 2050 Board appointments will help to strengthen biodiversity efforts across Aotearoa New Zealand, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. Mr Potaka today announced two appointments to the Board of Directors of Predator Free 2050 Limited, a key player in the wider Predator Free 2050 Programme. “The Predator ...3 hours ago
- New facility in Christchurch will improve the lives of young New Zealanders
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today opened Kahurangi, an innovative and much-needed facility for Canterbury’s Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Services. “The new state of the art outpatient facility opened today will be a gamechanger for the way mental health is delivered for young people in Canterbury,” says Mr ...3 hours ago
- Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that bus driver protection screens will be installed across Auckland’s bus fleet by 2026.“The Government is committed to improving the safety of working environments for bus drivers, and Budget 2024 allocated $15 million of Crown funding over ...4 hours ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...20 hours ago
- Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...21 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...22 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...22 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...22 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...24 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...1 day ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...1 day ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...1 day ago
- Fighting for Kiwis in Trade
Delivered at Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School Good morning and thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Lithander for your warm welcome and for inviting me to open Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School today. A Special thanks to the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ...1 day ago
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Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...1 day ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...1 day ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...2 days ago
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Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
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Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
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- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
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- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...3 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
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- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...3 days ago
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Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...3 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...4 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...4 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...5 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- Gang chapter president’s patch seized in first 24 hours of ban
The first arrest was made just three minutes after midnight, with 11 more to come. ...49 minutes ago - Government slammed for pushing on with boot camps amid trial
Labour has accused National of ignoring the evidence. ...1 hour ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Hanaghan, Senior Research Fellow in Latin Christianity in Late Antiquity, Australian Catholic University Warning: this article contains mild spoilers. When Gladiator I was released in 2000, I was a high school Classics student and the film brought Classical literature to life ...1 hour ago
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The first arrest was made just three minutes after midnight, with 11 more to come. ...2 hours ago
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The committee plans to hold hearings in the week starting Monday, 27 January and the weeks starting 10, 17 and 24 February 2025. ...2 hours ago
- Watch live: Christopher Luxon faces questions during power station visit
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...8 hours ago
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Interesting – so there are now loosely three test formats – the so-called 'brainscrape', the serum test, and the saliva test.
Certainly a cheap rapid result test is very desirable, even if it comes with slightly reduced sensitivity, it could expedite contact tracing by rapidly finding some of the infected.
Mina is of the view that automated labs are required to yield the fast turnaround and low cost outcome Yale is claiming.
I wonder what we might have had out of America had there been a decent president.
it's possible that best benefits will be for countries with lower wage costs than the US or NZ. I'd like to see a critique of both tweet threads. The Mina one was a bit technical for me.
"This is another example of what we can do when it really matters, and how TINA can be retired if we want to. It also strikes me as what happens when people have their hearts in the right place and I hope this creates some ripple effect within science and university communities."
Very good point.
Yes, unusual to see a university swimming upstream against the capitalist flow, but perhaps they used an economist as consultant? If you tithe via licensing you only need a small portion from each sale to get a profit from volume (supermarkets do the latter bit).
Whatever, the altruism is heart-warming. Looks like we're entering a phase of mass trialling of this and the other contenders.
"Official data shows 88-94%. If you assume 90% sensitivity, this is the best accuracy (sensitivity) of any saliva test. (It also means if you took it twice, for $20, you would have 99% accuracy)."
2 tests 98.56 % 3 tests 99.83% 4 tests 99.98% (all based on the 88%)
That's if you assume errors are always random and unrelated.
But if a test came back negative because of some reason like, say, the infection has more or less localised to the lungs so there's not enough viral material in saliva to detect, then there will be repeated false negative results at much higher rates.
Andy Slavitts an interesting fellow…shame Medicare for all is simply not on the horizon..in fact in some regards Bidens stand is even more conservative than Hilarys…despite MFA's remarkably favorable rating amongst Americans..despite the Covid, and despite those poor deluded souls who think the DNC is even pretending to accommodate the Progressive agenda.
https://pnhp.org/news/andy-slavitt-gives-his-candid-views-on-single-payer/
I think that proper treatment of covid is the way to go. I don’t think we should be pinning all our hopes on a vaccine. This includes early detection. Covid is likely to become endemic, so the best way to deal with it (until the mythical vaccine turns up) is by swift detection and early treatment.
Chris Martensen of Peak Prosperity (I know some on here don’t rate him) suggests the best treatment of covid – in the early stages – is HCQ + Ivermectin + zinc. This is within a couple of days of symptoms appearing and well before hospitalisation.
Because of the highly politicised and profit driven medical system in the US, Anthony Faucci is pushing a drug which costs and arm and a leg, whereas HCQ is out of patent and can be prescribed for a few cents.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD2-QVBQi48RRQTD4Jhxu8w
YouTube clip (53 min) from somebody with some largely irrelevant qualifications (e.g. no MD) vs. official Treatment Guidelines (205 pages) from NIH.
https://files.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/guidelines/covid19treatmentguidelines.pdf
Ah well, Incognito, I have no skin in the game. Time will tell whether Martensen is correct or not.
He seems pretty convincing to me, but hell, what do I know?
Until you need treatment, you may not have skin in the game. It is about looking at the available information at this point in time and making an informed decision or judgment call on what might and might not work, on what might have and not have risk associated with it. It is not about who’s right or wrong. It is about critically examining and reviewing the available data and information. In addition, I take in written information better than visual presentation. I believe GPs are free to form their own judgements and make their own decisions, but I wonder how many would look at YouTube clips for guidance.
There was an interesting article in The Atlantic on deploying either this saliva test or something similar. Think it's the same bloke. Coupled with group testing – testing a pile of samples together it looks to be a good backstop to check on overall community health quickly and cheaply.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/08/how-to-test-every-american-for-covid-19-every-day/615217/
Beware: if Trump and Kushner can't make dollars from this, watch for it to be railroaded into a siding somehow.
I presume this is a LAMP based process (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop-mediated_isothermal_amplification)
These are traditionally not as accurate as PCR and saliva may not contain as much (or any) virus.
It will be good if it works as well as promised, and it may still be useful in obviating the need for lockdown, even if not.
Umm…. I thought Yale was a private institution.