[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Widespread testing for COVID-19 using a simple, home-based saliva test is to be trialled within educational settings in Southampton.
This is the second phase of a ground-breaking programme to evaluate large scale population testing, led by Professor Keith Godfrey, Professor of Epidemiology and Human Development at the University’s MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit (MRC LEU). He commented: “Those taking part will help pave the way for wider regular testing across educational, community and business settings here in Southampton and more widely. What we learn from the Southampton COVID-19 Testing Programme will inform national policy and coronavirus control measures elsewhere across the country.”
Earlier this year, a partnership between the University of Southampton, Southampton City Council and the NHS, trialled the testing method on large number of households in the city on a weekly basis. Nearly 10,000 people took part and showed that an at-home saliva sampling kit can provide a reliable method for large-scale, regular testing and established systems to return results within 48 hours.
The second phase will evaluate the application of the test in educational settings, involving staff and students at the University staff and pupils from four local schools. This kind of testing offers the potential to avoid wholesale or long-term closures. The story was covered by ITV Meridian
Read more here.
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2020/09/saliva-phase-two.page[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Professor Cyrus Cooper, Director & Professor of Rheumatology, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit; Vice-Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, added:
“This ground-breaking programme represents a wonderful collaboration between the MRC LEU; University of Southampton; University Hospitals Southampton NHS Trust; and Southampton City Council”.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top_margin=”page_margin_top_section”][vc_column][vc_column_text]The study has been covered further:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/DHSCgovuk/videos/saliva-testing-trial-southampton/310016883466764/
UK Government:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/500-million-funding-for-quick-result-covid-19-test-trials
And
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-saliva-test-for-coronavirus-piloted-in-southampton[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
