Saliva COVID-19 PCR Testing

Saliva PCR testing for Covid-19 is now available at all AFC Urgent Care Denver locations, while supplies last. Check the red announcement banner at the top of our website for latest information about availability. Saliva sampling is a noninvasive alternative to upper respiratory swabbing. This is the diagnostic standard for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus Covid-19, the causative agent of coronavirus disease.  Saliva testing involves a much less uncomfortable method of collecting a fluid sample than nasal swab testing.

How do COVID-19 saliva tests work?

Coronavirus particles are shown to be present in saliva as well as in respiratory droplets, so they’re detectable in saliva using the same kind of analysis we perform on fluids collected with nasopharyngeal swabs (also called COVID-19 nasal swab testing). Laboratory testing aims to identify the presence of viral genome in the saliva sample using molecular methods that are similar to those used for nasal swab testing.

How much saliva is needed for a COVID-19 saliva test? How is the saliva collected?

Only a very small amount of saliva is needed to conduct a COVID-19 saliva test — less than a quarter of a teaspoon. So, patients are usually asked to let it pool in the bottom of their mouths for a few seconds without swallowing, then lean forward and let it drip into the small, sterile container they’re provided.
Spitting is something testers try to avoid, because that can generate aerosols. And they don’t want anyone clearing their throat or coughing first, either, because testers are looking for saliva, not mucus or phlegm from the back of the throat. People being tested are also asked avoid drinking water for at least 30 minutes and not to eat or drink anything else for about 30 minutes beforehand. That way, the samples are as clean and contaminant-free as possible.

Are saliva-based COVID-19 tests accurate?

An appropriately designed saliva test can be highly accurate. The FDA has recently issued emergency use authorization for saliva-based tests for clinical use based on a high level of accuracy that’s comparable to COVID-19 nasal swab testing. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/11/20-3283_article
When it comes to diagnosing COVID-19, which is more effective: nasal swab testing or saliva testing?
Our approach to COVID-19 has been evolving as more clinical data is being generated. Since the beginning of the pandemic, COVID-19 nasal swab testing has been a popular choice as a sample type among the list of upper and lower respiratory specimens to be tested in CDC’s guidance. But recent data and FDA approvals have shown that saliva can do an equally good job in an appropriate clinical setting.

How much does testing cost?

It’s important to ask about cost ahead of time. That varies depending on whether your health insurance will cover the test, or if you’ll be paying out of pocket.
This test is covered by most insurances. For further info about your insurance coverage please contact your insurance prior to your visit.