Saskatoon dentist working to develop a saliva test for coronavirus

A Saskatoon dentist is working to develop a saliva test to detect COVID 19, also known as coronavirus.

Walter Siqueira says the test would be quick and useful in places like airports.

“You don’t need to be an expert to collect saliva, especially if you’re using a swab,” he said Wednesday.

He says the test would show results similar to how a pregnancy test does by changing colour. The idea is to have results in just a matter of minutes.

“This could be used in airports and areas that have a population that could be at risk,” he said. “And the idea is to have a test that can show within minutes if you have the virus present in your body or not.”

Siqueira has experience in developing tests like this. In the past, he has helped develop saliva tests for the Zika virus and HIV.

The test will need to be approved by Health Canada.

“But Canada has a special pathway for this type of test to speed up the process in terms of getting approval and to be available for health providers,” he explained.

He’s hopeful once the test is approved, it will be available anywhere in the world.

The outbreak, which started in the city of Wuhan, China, has now spread to six of the world’s seven continents.

There are now 12 cases in Canada. An Ontario woman in her 60s who recently travelled to Iran is the latest to be infected.

Saskatchewan is still in the clear when it comes to the virus. In updated numbers released Wednesday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority says 27 tests have been done — and all have come back negative.