January 11, 2021 – Millikin University has partnered with SHIELD Illinois to implement a COVID-19 saliva-based testing program that will be available to students beginning today. Millikin employees will have the capability to begin testing starting the week of January 18.
SHIELD Illinois is a screening testing program and infrastructure that deploys the University of Illinois’ innovative saliva test across the state. SHIELD Illinois uses a saliva-based test that is easy to administer, scalable, sensitive, and specific to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
The current notification time for the saliva test is only six to 12 hours whereas the turnaround time for currently available tests is around two to three days or longer.
The test produces rapid results at costs significantly below current alternatives such as nasal swabs. Through cost and speed advantages, the saliva tests can increase access to testing and control the spread of the virus by identifying pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers.
