New Oral Covid Test

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Like the idea of getting your nose swabbed to test for covid-19 ... you might be in luck.

Researchers are trying out a new oral rinse test in louisville.

If you live elsewhere ... it may be available to you down the line.

Connie leonard has more on how it works.

Martha dick/louisville tester: "so just keep swishing it?

Just keep swishing it."

Swishing for a minute like a mouthwash.

Then, back in the tube.

Martha dick/louisville tester: "it didn't taste that bad.

The hardest part was just waiting 60 seconds."

Terry o'mahoney/louisville tester: "no big deal, really.

Easy to do."

At this bluewater mobile testing site off blankenbaker parkway, we watched as those taking the covid-19 oral rinse.

Also took a nasal swab test to help validate the results.

Created a few years back for roadside toxicology tests, the rinse is considered more reliable than a test that uses one sample of saliva.

Greg ingle/lucid dx labs ceo: "it causes you to salivate, right, so you're not collecting saliva.

You're collecting back the oral rinse, which has the viscosity of water.

It makes it very easy to scale in the laboratory."

Where it's likely to have the biggest appeal?

Kids who may be intimidated or afraid of the nasal tests.

With more schools seeing infections more children are tested.

The rinse may also be a better option for seniors with dry mouth or those who don't like the nasal swab.

That was the case for the dad of patent holder and lab operator greg ingle.

Greg ingle/lucid dx labs ceo: "my father is covid-positive; he wouldn't take a second test.

He just wasn't going to do it."

Ingle says the rinse is currently being used for e-s-p-n and other film crews tested on a regular basis.

What it tastes like might surprise you.

Greg ingle/lucid dx labs ceo: "if you've ever drank a red bull, i'm going to tell you it's exactly what it tastes like, a natural product like that, like a flat red bull."

Terry o'mahoney/louisville tester: "i don't drink red bull, so i couldn't tell you, but it just tasted like very weak mouthwash."

Martha dick/louisville tester: "i'm all for anything that would make it easier for people to be positive about being tested and not worried about