More than 14,000 people are to take part in a new saliva test for coronavirus.
The 'no-swab' test trials will see GP staff and other essential key workers testing themselves over four weeks, starting today.
Saliva will be deposited into sample pots, and then collected by scientists to be analysed for current coronavirus infections.
The trials are due to begin in Southampton, with the hope they could be rolled out across the UK if successful.
GP staff, key workers, university employees and members of their households will be among the first groups to participate in the pilot, with test kits delivered either to their home or workplace for them to complete every week.
They should receive the results within 48 hours.
READ MORE: Scottish developer of home Covid-19 test to step up work
UK Government Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Saliva testing could potentially make it even easier for people to take coronavirus tests at home, without having to use swabs.
"This trial will also help us learn if routine, at-home testing could pick up cases of the virus earlier.
“I am very grateful to everyone involved in the trial who is helping us develop our understanding of the virus which will benefit not only our but the global response to it.”
The UK Department for Health and Social care said these types of tests will help to increase the testing capacity for coronavirus, with initial results said to be "highly promising".
READ MORE: Coronavirus global spread accelerating as lockdown eases
The weekly tests are hoped to identify coronavirus cases earlier, including in people with no symptoms, or minor ones.
Those who test positive will then be required to isolate for one or two weeks in their homes.
Results will be shared with the UK Government's track and trace programme.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel