(Photo from ASU Biodesign Institute)
PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Health Services announced a second free trial of COVID-19 on Monday using a saliva sample process developed at Arizona State University.
The driving sample collection will take place Tuesday from 7 am to 11 am at the Ak-Chin Pavilion in West Phoenix.
The saliva diagnostic test process was developed by the ASU Biodesign Institute.
The school is partnering with the state on the free program, which debuted Saturday with four hours of pickup at the same location.
Anyone who wants to participate must pre-register online using the code jdzkkww6.
Details about future sessions, including the registration code, will be listed on the state’s website when plans are finalized.
Children under the age of 10 cannot take the tests.
Most coronavirus diagnostic tests require a sample collected through a swab inserted deep into the nasal cavity.
ASU’s saliva method is promoted as less invasive while being so effective in detecting active infections with COVID-19.
Results are usually available within 48 hours, according to ASU.
The Biodesign Institute published a video explaining the saliva collection process.
Arizona reported 1,357 new cases of coronavirus and eight additional deaths on Monday, bringing the state total to 123,824 cases and 2,245 deaths.
More than 701,000 PCR tests have been completed in Arizona since the start of the pandemic, including 6,240 added to Monday’s total.
However, test capacity has been reduced and response times have been increased.
Sonora Quest Laboratories, which conducts approximately 80% of Arizona tests, announced plans last week to increase its capacity from approximately 7,000 tests a day to 60,000 tests a day in late August.
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