‘Less than a teaspoon’: Saliva COVID-19 testing comes to Middle Georgia

November 5, 2020

Jatrissa Wooten,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The first-ever saliva COVID-19 testing arrived. Now, Middle Georgia lab doctors say goodbye to nasal swabs testing and hello to the more efficient method.

“Only an ounce of saliva is required. That’s less than a teaspoon,” said William Knopf, CEO of Middle Georgia Lab.

Doctors at a Middle Georgia Lab say that’s all it takes for rapid test results.

“You can have it many times the same day but certainly we can have it in 24 hours,” Knopf said.

Dr. Knopf says the saliva test is 99.8 percent accurate. He says you don’t even have to go into the office for a test.

Dr. Knopf operates a mobile clinic to serve Middle Georgia residents. He says with new saliva covid testing, people can count on rapid results and a pain-free experience.

“It’s a no brainer because you’re not tickling your brain with the nasal swab,” Knopf said.

Dr. Knopt deems the availability of resources as a major difference between saliva and nasal testing. He says one of his practitioners quarantined for two weeks in March — potentially with COVID — and had no place to get tested.

“Do I have the virus? Can I touch my kids, can I be in the same room with them. Just the unknown,” said Stephanie Vandine, nurse practitioner.

Knopf hopes more people get tested with the saliva method.