University of Illinois wins FDA approval for saliva COVID-19 test
The University of Illinois System received Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday for its saliva-based COVID-19 test, as the statewide seven-day rolling positivity rate reached 2.4 percent.
The FDA approval allows for the covidSHIELD test to expand beyond the U of I System. The saliva-based COVID-19 test has been administered more than 1.5 million times at universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield since it launched in 2020, according to a news release.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he will be dedicating $20 million in federal CARES Act funding to provide one million of the saliva-based tests to Illinoisâ 12 public universities and 48 community colleges.
A new ISU testing lab will use the University of Illinois saliva test to analyze returning student samples for COVID-19. David Proeber
NORMALÂ â Zain Becerra just earned his masterâs degree in chemistry from Illinois State University and started a new job, but he wonât necessarily be sad if the job doesnât last.
âWe all want to be done with COVID and get back to normal life,â said Becerra, during a tour of the facility on the second floor of the Science Lab Building, where he is one of three lab techs.
In the meantime, âIt feels good to be part of this,â said Becerra. âYou want to help people. Thatâs why we entered the field. We want to help the community.â