Saliva testing under way to protect residents and staff

Ryman Healthcare and Hill Laboratories have teamed up to introduce fast-track COVID-19 saliva tests at Ryman villages.

Ryman has contracted the Hamilton lab company to carry out saliva tests to offer an extra reassurance following the recent emergence of community cases of COVID-19 in Auckland.

Staff at a number of Auckland villages took part in the voluntary saliva tests during the Level 3 lockdown.

Ryman Healthcare Chief Operations Officer Cheyne Chalmers said the Hill tests were an exciting new development in the campaign to keep Ryman’s villages free of COVID-19.

“Being able to test staff quickly, accurately and efficiently is an important extra safeguard for us. We want to do everything we can to keep the virus out.’’

Hill Laboratories developed the saliva test for use in aged care last year.

During the first lockdown in March/April 2020 aged care operators, including Ryman, approached the Hill team for assistance with testing because of difficulties in getting access to tests. While no testing was performed at that time, the Ryman and the Hill team continued working together in the months since then.

Hill Laboratories Chief Executive Dr Jonathan Hill said his team developed and validated a method for testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) in saliva samples in August last year.

More recently, Hill Laboratories has implemented the ‘SalivaDirect’ test, which was developed and published by the Yale School of Public Health, with the US FDA granting this methodology Emergency Use Authorization on August 15, 2020.

“While roughly equivalent in terms of accuracy and sensitivity to the current nasopharyngeal swab PCR methodology being widely employed in New Zealand, the primary advantage of the new SalivaDirect methodology is that it tests saliva, rather than nasopharyngeal swabs,’’ Dr Hill said.

The SalivaDirect test is also a simple test, so the cost is considerably lower, making it more feasible to be used.

Pictured: Hill Laboratories’ saliva tests will be carried out in Ryman villages and sites.