On Oct. 6, Sacred Heart University began testing students for COVID-19 with a saliva test. Saliva testing takes place at the South Garage on Main Campus. Throughout the semester, tests will be given on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
According to Dr. Sherylyn Watson, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and assistant professor, “The goal is to increase the amount of people being tested as well as the ability to have a quick turnaround and accuracy. The saliva testing has a good accuracy rate, and we can do a lot more than the nasal swab ones.”
Sacred Heart is paving the way to using the saliva test in addition to the nasal swab test. “We are one of the first universities to do it,” said Michael Iannazzi, Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “This was just discovered at the end of August. We were waiting for this to come.”
He continued, “One of us on the COVID team saw an article about this SalivaDirect. So immediately we went after it. We really went after them hard because it was a great solution for us.”
SalivaDirect is a new way to collect samples for a PCR test in a centralized lab.
Gary MacNamara, Chief Executive Director of Public Safety and Government Affairs, was the first to be approached by SalivaDirect. He felt it provided a great opportunity for Sacred Heart to pioneer this new form of testing. The university had a unique opportunity to quickly and safely increase student testing.
“We did 254 tests in the first week, which gave us the chance to really work through the logistics,” MacNamara said.
When asked about the goal of the saliva test, MacNamara said, “The saliva test has those three components we are looking for: the less intrusiveness, the ease in which it can be administered, and the rapid return, which is something we also want.”
Sacred Heart’s main priority is the safety of their students, faculty, and staff. “The quicker we get results, the quicker we can identify positives and then take appropriate action to avoid the spread,” said MacNamara. “That is what SalivaDirect allows us to do.”
Iannazi discussed how people are reacting positively to the new saliva test. He said, “There are people calling him (MacNamara) asking where do you get this test, how did you get it, how are you doing it.”
Many students have had positive experiences with SalivaDirect and find it less invasive than the nasal swab test. Junior Madison Craig said about the saliva test, “It was a lot easier to handle, just a little bit awkward to be sitting and spitting. It was a different experience than what I’m used to, but it was better than the nose swab test.”
