The Center for Research on the Human Genome and Stem Cells (CEGH-CEL) at USP will offer, starting this Tuesday (1st / 12th), a test capable of diagnosing covid-19 by saliva. The exam can be done initially by residents of São Paulo at a cost of R $ 90 – for those who go to the institution to collect the saliva sample – or R $ 150 – for those who choose to make the self-collection and send the sample for analysis by a pick-up and delivery service provided by the center.
“Initially we will carry out a maximum of 90 tests per day [in order of registration] , the results of which will be made available within 24 hours,” Professor Maria Rita Passos-Bueno, a researcher at CEGH-CEL and project coordinator, told Agência Fapesp.
To request the test, it is necessary to register at the link available on the CEGH-CEL website, a Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (CEPID) financed by the São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp), at the Instituto de Biocências (IB) of USP.
The method is an alternative to the RT-PCR exam, considered the gold standard for detecting the new coronavirus during the acute phase of infection, and similar to those already developed in Brazil and other countries with the aim of increasing availability and speed. and to reduce costs for carrying out molecular tests by simplifying processes. According to Maria Rita, the test is in accordance with the guidelines determined by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).