Paris (AFP)
Saliva tests can be used to detect infections with the new coronavirus, but only in people with symptoms, according to an opinion from the High Authority of Health (HAS) issued Friday.
The authorities hope that the arrival of saliva tests will reduce the time taken for tests, which are currently too long.
On the other hand, the HAS does not recommend saliva tests on people without symptoms, in whom "we would miss more than 75%" of infections due to insufficient performance, said Prof. Dominique Le Guludec, president of the College of the High Authority. de Santé (HAS), during an online press conference.
Saliva tests can detect the presence of genetic material of the coronavirus from a simple saliva sample.
This is easier, faster and less unpleasant than the current reference sample (RT-PCR), which requires that a long swab be inserted deeply into the person's nose.
"We recommend reserving (saliva tests) as a priority for those for whom the test in the nose is difficult," added Professor Le Guludec.
Among them, children who have rhinitis and go to the doctor's office, the very old or those with mental disorders.
The saliva test requires "spitting into a tube": it "can be done in general medicine, you can do it at home, just like a urine test to bring it to the laboratory", according to Professor Le Guludec.
"This is not going to change the technique (of analysis, editor's note), but undoubtedly reduce the queues in front of the laboratories", she continued.
After this notice, the Health Insurance will decide on the reimbursement, which may only take a few days, according to the HAS.
The evaluation was made on the intermediate results of a French study comparing the reference RT-PCR test in the nose and the saliva test, which showed acceptable performance for symptomatic people.
© 2020 AFP