UofSC to expand saliva-based COVID-19 testing statewide
Posted on: October 21, 2020; Updated on: October 21, 2020
By Jeff Stensland, stenslan@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-3686
The University of South Carolina will expand rapid saliva-based COVID-19 testing to other colleges and universities across the state thanks to a $16.7 million investment from the state of South Carolina.
UofSC is one of the first universities in the nation to develop a saliva-based COVID-19 testing program for students, faculty and staff. With the grant, more schools across the state will be able to offer the test this spring. The UofSC College of Pharmacy, which developed the highly accurate test, offers testing five days a week on a walk-up basis and results are delivered within 24 hours.
“We look forward to expanding our program to help other institutions throughout our state," College of Pharmacy Dean Stephen J. Cutler says. "As South Carolina’s flagship research university, we are dedicated to serving all South Carolinians. Community service is part of our mission. This expansion will allow us to do this in a meaningful and timely way.”
Partners in the project include the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Clemson University. Under the project, funded through the state's CARES Act allocation and state’s COVID-19 Response Reserve Account, UofSC will receive expand its testing capabilities, reduce testing result turnaround times and increase testing capacity to meet the needs for other state universities.
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