Thermo Fisher Scientific announced today the availability of a new direct from saliva PCR test for COVID-19 to enable widespread, high-frequency surveillance testing. The Applied Biosystems TaqCheck SARS-CoV-2 Fast PCR Assay uses raw saliva samples and simplifies lab workflows using instruments that are widely available globally to deliver reliable data quickly.
The company also introduced the Safe Campus Reopening Program to subsidize the cost of the test for U.S. colleges, universities and post-secondary institutions. Availability of this program coincides with recent guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that calls for expanded COVID-19 surveillance using PCR-based tests with turnaround times within 24-48 hours.