Air NZ plans saliva testing for staff
Trial could usher in fast, accurate, less invasive virus test
Air New Zealand staff will be tested for Covid-19 using saliva samples, in a threemonth study kicking off next week. Saliva-based testing has been increasingly touted as a quick, accurate and less-invasive option for those who need regular checks – and if the study is successful it could be rolled out more widely.
In the new trial, led by ESR and Air NZ, staff members will provide saliva samples alongside their regular nasopharyngeal swabs, so the two can be compared.
ESR chief scientist, Dr Brett Cowan, hoped saliva testing would be more comfortable than current methods.
“This study will go a long way to determine how saliva testing might fit, or not fit, alongside nasal swab testing, within New Zealand’s unique context where we must detect and track every case,” he said.
“If saliva testing is to be incorporated into our testing regime, it needs to undergo that same scrutiny for us to have confidence in its ability to detect Covid-19.”
The study will include the SalivaDirect Covid-19 testing technology, which was granted emergency use authorisation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year. SalivaDirect was well suited for groups of people who needed repeated testing.
While based on PCR methods currently used for analysing virus samples, SalivaDirect required only a small sample – or people essentially having to spit into a container.
The procedure was arguably safer,
This study will go a long way to determine how saliva testing might fit, or not fit, alongside nasal swab testing. Dr Brett Cowan
in that there was less risk of exposure to healthcare workers collecting the samples.
Results so far have shown it to be highly sensitive and accurate about 94 per cent of the time – compared to the effectiveness of nasal swabs.
Air New Zealand chief medical officer Dr Ben Johnston said surveillance testing for Covid-19 for crew, pilots and airport staff would be
required some time into the future.
“It’s great to be teaming up with ESR on this study to see if there is a more non-invasive and comfortable testing option which would greatly improve the experience for our people and New Zealanders,” he said.
A Ministry of Health spokesperson said that saliva testing is considered a “good additional option” for those who require frequent testing, such as border workers, where saliva-based testing can complement regular nasopharyngeal testing.
“Border workers in New Zealand will continue to be tested on a regular, routine basis with the nasopharyngeal swabs due to their high sensitivity in detecting the virus.”
On Sunday, 1868 Covid-19 tests were processed. The seven-day rolling average up to yesterday is 3513 tests processed.
There are six new cases of Covid19 in New Zealand, all in managed isolation.
Of the six, two are from the US, three are from the UK and one is from South Africa.
Four of the cases – the three from the UK and one from South Africa – are in quarantine in Auckland.
The two from the US are in Christchurch.
One of the new cases has been classified as historical and deemed not infectious, the ministry said.
Three previously reported cases have now recovered, meaning the total number of active cases in New Zealand is 85.
They are all in isolation.